New York City – Israel must cease using water as a “weapon of war” and allow clean water and fuel supplies into Gaza immediately, warned a UN expert on Friday. Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the UN’s special rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, emphasized that intentionally depriving the civilian population of essential resources is a violation of international law and constitutes a crime against humanity.
Arrojo-Agudo highlighted the urgent situation in the Gaza Strip, stating that every hour that passes with Israel obstructing the provision of safe drinking water puts the lives of Gazans in jeopardy. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has reported that the depletion of fuel supplies in Gaza has led to the breakdown of water supplies, sewage-management systems, sanitation services, communications networks, and healthcare facilities.
Conscious prevention of supplies necessary for safe water entering Gaza is a violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, Arrojo-Agudo stressed. He warned that the impact on public health and hygiene could result in more civilian deaths than the already devastating toll from the bombardment of Gaza. Children, particularly those under the age of five, and women are the most vulnerable in this water and sanitation emergency, he added.
According to UNRWA, approximately 70% of Gazans are forced to consume contaminated or saltwater to survive. Many water-related facilities in the region, including sewage-pumping stations, wells, desalination plants, and wastewater treatment plants, have ceased operations. The consumption of salinated and polluted water from unsafe sources has already led to dehydration and waterborne diseases among the population.
UNRWA has warned that humanitarian operations will collapse due to the lack of fuel, which is essential for desalination processes, electricity generation, healthcare equipment, and aid delivery. Arrojo-Agudo urged the international community to ensure that Israel fulfills its obligations under international law and emphasized that the fate of Palestinians in Gaza ultimately rests in Israel’s hands.
As a special rapporteur, Arrojo-Agudo is an independent expert who works voluntarily and is not a UN staff member. His role is part of the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, aiming to address human rights issues and promote accountability.
