UN experts have accused Israel of weaponising water against Palestinians in Gaza, calling its deliberate denial of access to safe drinking water a “crime against humanity” and an act of genocide.

In a sharply worded statement issued on July 29th, the experts charged that Israel’s military campaign since October 2023 has systematically targeted Gaza’s water infrastructure, with nearly 90% of it now damaged or destroyed. Over 90% of Gazan households are reportedly without access to safe water.

Israel’s blockade and destruction of civilian utilities, they argue, have created dire sanitary conditions and widespread dehydration, especially among children.

The International Court of Justice affirmed in 2024 that Israel, as an occupying power, must ensure adequate water supplies. Yet, the experts allege that Israel has instead curtailed emergency deliveries and fuel access, forcing a halt to critical humanitarian efforts.

As temperatures soar and disease spreads, the UN panel is urging immediate naval humanitarian intervention and a full restoration of water and sanitation services. The charge is grave: that the deprivation is not incidental, but a calculated strategy aimed at destroying a people.

 Source: Special Procedures/United Nations/Human Rights Council.