Water Crisis in Gaza 2025: A Life-or-Death Struggle

The water crisis in Gaza has deepened in 2025 in a shocking way, reaching a life-or-death situation for over two million Palestinians.”  Due to frequent Israeli military incursions, years of siege, and physical destruction of critical infrastructure, safe and clean drinking water is virtually unattainable. Gaza is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time.

The Scope of the Water Crisis in Gaza

In Gaza 2025, the water crisis is a desperate fight to survive. Over 90% of the water is unfit to drink, and individuals have to survive on salty or contaminated water sources. The UN and WHO estimate that most of the population are lacking access to less than 5 liters of water per day—far short of the 50-liter threshold needed to achieve basic health and hygiene.

With 70% of Gaza’s water infrastructure destroyed, including desalination plants and pumps, what little there is doesn’t function at all due to fuel and electricity shortages. Parents and children now walk for miles in the sun to obtain a few liters of water—typically dirty and not suitable for use.

Water is no longer a right in Gaza. It’s a matter of life and death on an everyday basis.

Major Water Cut in Gaza

The Israeli forces chopped off Mekorot water lines to Gaza, and the Strip dipped to as low as 70% of its available water. The huge Shujaiya pipeline in Eastern Gaza City was bombed by the Israeli forces time and again.

The Gaza government is unable to determine whether the cutoff has been due to bombardment or otherwise and if the step is politically driven. They are seeking the advice of international authorities to appeal.

Failure to reestablish supply in the short run will leave Gaza with an acute water shortage. The region is already plagued by chronic shortages of water due to the impact of closure, network damage, and polluted groundwater, and this further expands the humanitarian crisis.

Major Causes of the Water Crisis in Gaza

1. Destruction of Water Infrastructure

Israeli airstrikes throughout its 2024–2025 war destroyed Gaza’s necessary water infrastructure. Pipelines, desalination plants, and sewage systems lie idle in large sections of the strip, leaving clean water inaccessible to thousands of families.

2. Israeli Blockade and Fuel Restrictions

Fuel and repair equipment have been refused by the blockade. Without diesel or electricity, water pumps and treatment plants are unable to operate, worsening the area’s shortage of water and further worsening the water crisis in Gaza.

3. Overuse and Contamination of the Aquifer

Gaza’s main water source, the coastal aquifer, is now not potable. Seawater intrusion has been caused by over-pumping, and untreated sewage further taints it.

4. Impact of Climate Change

Warming and reduced rainfall heightened water  crises in Gaza. More frequent droughts and less water are available there.

Public Health and Sanitation Collapse

The collapse of water systems has led to a sanitation crisis.

Untreated water is emitted into the environment.

More transmission of diarrhea, hepatitis A, and skin disease.

Hospitals and health centers are struggling to provide as sanitary an environment as is available, considering water shortages.

Children: The Most Affected Victims

The most impacted victims of Gaza are children, and they form around half the population. More than 50% of children in 2025 are dehydrated and malnourished. Schools and shelters do not have clean toilets and hand-washing stations. Children are facing increased long-term psychological trauma from conflict, deprivation, and the ongoing water crisis in Gaza.

Children’s Aid in Gaza: Support us in distributing Water Tanks

The water crisis in gaza is not merely a fabricated water shortage crisis—it’s an erasure of human rights. Unless it happens very, very quickly via some kind of international intervention, more will be hurt or even die. Clean water is not a luxury; it’s a human right that can’t be waived.

Now, Children’s Aid is distributing water tanks among deserving families n gaza. We shared all details on our website; you can check Here. Donate whatever you can so that we can supply water in Gaza, as situations are actually extremely hard there.

Donate for Gaza Here.