MSF report: Israel weaponising water access in Gaza through systematic infrastructure destruction

A report released by the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on 28 April 2026 accuses Israeli authorities of systematically depriving Palestinians in Gaza of access to clean water. The organisation characterises this action as a campaign of collective punishment and an integral part of Israel's genocide. The findings, detailed in a document titled "Water as a Weapon", are based on data and testimonies collected between 2024 and 2025.

MSF states that Israeli authorities have deliberately and systematically obliterated water infrastructure in Gaza while consistently blocking the entry of water-related supplies. The report cites data from the United Nations, European Union, and World Bank indicating that nearly 90 per cent of water and sanitation infrastructure in the enclave has been destroyed or damaged. Specific infrastructure rendered inoperable includes desalination plants, boreholes, pipelines, and sewage systems.

As the largest producer and main distributor of drinking water in Gaza, MSF provided over 5.3 million litres daily last month for 407,000 people. However, military displacement orders have locked their teams out of previously serviced areas. The charity documented incidents where its clearly identified water trucks and boreholes were shot at or destroyed, resulting in injuries and deaths among Palestinians attempting to access water.

Emergency manager Claire San Filippo warned that the deprivation of water, combined with overcrowding and a collapsed health system, creates a perfect storm for disease spread. The report highlights the broader context of engineered scarcity occurring alongside direct killing of civilians and the devastation of health facilities and homes.

MSF noted that a third of its requests for critical supplies, including desalination units, pumps, tanks, and water treatment chemicals, have been rejected or left unanswered. The organisation called on Israel to immediately restore water for people at the required levels in Gaza and urged Israel's allies to use their leverage to pressure Israel to stop impeding humanitarian access.

The report was issued against a backdrop of daily violence persisting since an October ceasefire largely halted the war that began following the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023. Both the Israeli military and Hamas continue to accuse each other of breaching the truce while the territory remains gripped by conflict.