The creator says that not solely is Israel actively working to offer water to Gaza, even throughout battle, it spends thousands and thousands of {dollars} to make it possible for the folks in Gaza have entry to water. Photograph: Fadi Alwhidi/Anadolu through Getty Photographs
Final week, Sõzarn Barday authored a misinformed article in regards to the water state of affairs in Gaza (Mail & Guardian, 25 February 2025). This response goals to rectify the claims offered within the article and to precisely characterize the details.
First, Israel’s battle isn’t with the civilian inhabitants of Gaza, however fairly with the terrorist organisation, Hamas, which has dominated Gaza since 2006, after they took energy by a coup and prevented any elections for nearly 20 years. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) upholds a transparent distinction between these terrorist organisations and their infrastructure, and the civilian inhabitants in Gaza. As a common precept, the IDF maintains a transparent distinction between its ongoing combat in opposition to terrorist organisations in Gaza and its dedication to minimising hurt to uninvolved civilians, who are sometimes used as a human protect and whose wants are uncared for with a purpose to arm the Hamas leaders. This precept is a central consideration within the IDF’s decision-making and operational planning processes.
The Coordination of Authorities Actions within the Territories (COGAT) implements the federal government’s civilian coverage inside the territories of Judea and Samaria and in the direction of the Gaza Strip. On this capability, COGAT facilitates and coordinates common humanitarian actions within the Gaza Strip, together with the availability of meals, water, medical provides, shelter tools and the refuelling of important infrastructure all through the area. Previous to the graduation of the warfare, Gaza’s water provide was derived from native pumping and desalination services.
Barday claims that Gazans survive on simply 9 litres of water a day. Nonetheless, proof signifies that Israel maintains the World Well being Organisation’s minimal day by day water requirement for people in battle zones, which is 15 litres, and is at the moment aiding in growth efforts to make sure there are not any water shortages within the Gaza Strip.
Moreover, Barday shows inaccuracy by stating, “Gaza’s water disaster isn’t just a consequence of warfare — it’s a weapon of warfare, systematically used to deprive a complete inhabitants of life’s most important useful resource.” That is inaccurate. Three water traces from Israel into Gaza are energetic (Birkat Sa’id, Bani Suheila, and the northern pipeline), supplying a mean of 107 litres an individual in northern Gaza, 34 litres an individual in central Gaza, and 20 litres an individual in southern Gaza.
Not solely is Israel actively working to offer water to Gaza, even throughout battle, it spends thousands and thousands of {dollars} to make it possible for the folks in Gaza have entry to water. Because the second week of the battle, Israel has equipped water to Gaza by pipelines inside Israeli territory. This contains sending Israeli groups to restore broken traces throughout ongoing hostilities. A specific emphasis has been positioned on preserving and reinforcing the water sector in Gaza to make sure optimum entry to potable water for the native civilian inhabitants.
These actions, their outcomes, and ongoing monitoring underscore the dedication of the IDF and the State of Israel to enhancing the humanitarian state of affairs in Gaza. Additionally they replicate the constant coverage of enhancing and growing the coordination of humanitarian help and help for native humanitarian actions.
Adi Cohen-Hazanov is the deputy chief of mission on the Israeli embassy in South Africa.