The United Nations has reported that approximately one million Palestinians living in the besieged Gaza Strip have been forced to cope with reduced water supplies for a second consecutive day [1]. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric addressed the situation during a news conference on Wednesday, highlighting the ongoing concerns of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs regarding the welfare of civilians in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
According to Dujarric, the affected population in Gaza relies on the Israeli water grid, and the current shortfall is only being partially offset by the distribution of water from alternative sources via truck. Amid these developments, Dujarric expressed the UN's continued concern regarding the trajectory of the conflict and the displacement of Palestinians, noting that the organization advocates for a two-state solution despite the challenging reality on the ground.
The humanitarian situation remains dire, as the region has faced significant destruction since the start of the conflict in October 2023. Israel has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom were women and children, while wounding over 174,000 others. The conflict has resulted in the widespread ruin of the blockaded enclave and the displacement of its entire population.
Beyond the crisis in Gaza, the UN also raised alarm over events in the West Bank, specifically the reported destruction of the entire community of Khirbet at Tabban by Israeli forces [2]. This village is one of 13 herding communities in the Masafer Yatta area of Hebron, which Israeli authorities have designated as firing zones for military training. Dujarric pointed out that the establishment of a dozen settler outposts in the area over the past two years, coupled with violence from illegal settlers, has placed immense pressure on local residents to abandon their homes. This escalation in military raids and settler attacks has been accompanied by the construction of roads restricted to occupiers and tighter movement constraints for Palestinians.
