By Abdullahi Lukman
The Palestinian Water Authority announced last Friday that it has restored water supply to central Gaza after it was cut off for over nine months due to Israeli bombardment damaging key supply lines.
The restored water main now serves nearly one million residents and displaced people in Al-Maghazi, Al-Bureij, Nuseirat, and Deir Al-Balah.
Repairs were delayed by ongoing military activity and the presence of Israeli forces, requiring coordination with Israel, which supplies about 22 percent of Gaza’s water through Mekorot, a state-owned Israeli company.
The Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah and overseeing the Water Authority, continues to manage certain civilian matters in Gaza despite Hamas’ control since 2007.
Humanitarian sources warn that despite the repair, around 80 percent of Gaza’s water distribution network remains damaged, with frequent leaks and deteriorating infrastructure.
The region faces a worsening water crisis exacerbated by the war, with much of the water drawn from a shrinking aquifer that is often brackish and unsafe.
Many Gazans displaced by nearly two years of conflict rely on temporary water distribution points and water trucks, especially those living in shelters near the coast.
The UN-led WASH Cluster highlights the extensive damage to water pipes and the urgent needs for hygiene and water access amid ongoing air strikes.
The conflict has killed at least 66,288 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Repair efforts face uncertainty, with UN sources likening the restoration of water infrastructure to the myth of Sisyphus, as damage may recur.
