Israeli Army Demolish Water Reservoir in Rafah amid Water Crisis

Gaza, MINA – The Israeli army demolished a drinking water reservoir in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Monday, as reported by Palestine Chronicle.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the 401st Brigade of the Armored Corps carried out the demolition of the central reservoir last week, following orders from the brigade commanders.

According to Haaretz, a soldier shared a video of the explosion on social media, with the caption “The destruction of Tel Sultan’s water reservoir in honor of Shabbat.”

The army is reportedly investigating a potential breach of international law concerning the destruction of the drinking water reservoir in Rafah.

Haaretz mentioned that after the initial inquiry, a decision will be made on whether to proceed with an investigation by the investigating military police.

The reservoir, located in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood, was destroyed using explosive devices.

Most of this neighborhood had not been evacuated by the Israeli army, the report added. The neighborhood, situated in northwest Rafah, is close to areas designated by the army as safe for civilians.

The Israeli military declined to comment on the incident, but military sources confirmed the details, according to the report.

Since the start of Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza in October, “a number of video clips involving Israeli troops have been made public that have sparked outrage around the world,” Haaretz reported, noting that “the posts have been seen as examples of soldiers’ blatant disregard for the distress of Gaza’s civilian population.”

The city of Rafah condemned on Monday the Israeli army’s bombing of a municipal drinking water reservoir in the Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood as a grave violation of humanitarian law.

“The Israeli soldiers’ detonation of the main water reservoir in Tal Al-Sultan is a crime against humanity and perpetuates a policy of collective punishment,” Ahmed Soufi, the Mayor of Rafah, said in a statement.

The incident has worsened the severe water crisis in the area.

“The destruction of the water reservoir will exacerbate the crisis in the city, and we urge involved international entities to intervene and stop the Israeli occupation’s crimes,” the mayor said. (T/RE1/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)