Water should not be a weapon of war

Dear Friend,

Despite the supposed ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli forces are continuing to target and kill Palestinians. That includes systematically depriving people in Gaza of water in a campaign of collective punishment. 

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) condemns this outright. After the local authorities, we are the largest producer and a main distributor of drinking water in Gaza. Our teams in Palestine are working hard to help those who are struggling to access the basic necessities of life.  

Every day, MSF staff produce and distribute over 5.3 million litres of water – the equivalent of the minimum needs of over 407,000 people; enough for one in five inhabitants of the Strip. But even still, needs far exceed supply. That is especially because between October 2023 and January 2026, prices for water produced by private providers have increased by up to 500 per cent, placing it beyond the reach of most households that have lost their livelihoods. 

Your donation could help our teams continue providing clean water in Gaza.

These are not isolated acts. They are part of a recurrent, systematic and cumulative pattern Israeli authorities are repeating to weaponise water. 

Israel has destroyed or damaged nearly 90 per cent of water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza, including desalination plants, boreholes, pipelines, and sewage systems. 

MSF teams in Palestine have documented the Israeli military shooting at clearly identified water trucks or destroying boreholes that were a lifeline for tens of thousands of people. Violent incidents have often occurred as water was being distributed to people, injuring Palestinians and aid workers, and damaging equipment.

The deliberate denial of water from Palestinians is an integral part of Israel’s genocide. It is occurring alongside the direct killing of civilians, the devastation of health facilities, and the flattening of homes forcing mass displacement. As of 20 January 2026, at least 71,551 Palestinians have been directly killed and over 171,300 injured by Israeli attacks, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.  

Together, it is a deliberate infliction of destructive and inhumane conditions on Palestinians in Gaza.  

We remain committed to continue providing drinking water in Gaza – but we can only continue to do this with your help. Please will you make a donation today?

Between May and November 2025, one in every five of our water distributions ran dry as our trucks were unable to carry sufficient water for all the people who required it.  

Israeli military displacement orders have locked our teams out of areas where we had provided water to hundreds of thousands of people, leading to essential services stopping and the loss of lifesaving infrastructure. 

Our teams provide vital materials including water desalination units, pumps, chlorine and other chemicals to treat water, as well as other sanitation essentials like water tanks, insect repellent, and latrines. However, one-third of our requests to bring in critical water and sanitation supplies have been rejected or left unanswered. Many of the items that were approved by the Israeli authorities, were then subsequently turned away at the border.

The consequences of this deprivation of access to water are far-reaching on people’s health, hygiene, and dignity, particularly for women and people with disabilities.

People are forced to dig holes in the sand as toilets, which flood and contaminate the surroundings and groundwater with faeces.

The lack of access to water and hygiene, coupled with life in dire and undignified conditions like overcrowded tents, also leads to increases in diseases – particularly skin conditions and gastrointestinal illness.

We are committed to continuing to provide medical and humanitarian assistance in some of the world's most challenging circumstances. Friend, by giving a gift today, your support helps us be where the need is greatest across the world.

As our teams endeavour to continue their lifesaving work in Palestine, we urgently need your help. Please will you make a donation to support the people of Gaza, Lebanon and beyond today?

Thank you for your commitment to helping MSF continue our lifesaving humanitarian work around the world in these concerning and chaotic times. We will never give up, and together, we can be there for those who need us most. 

With gratitude,