Gaza Sewage Crisis Worsens Amid Israeli Restrictions, Threatening Residents

Approximately 40,000 cubic meters of untreated sewage are flowing daily into the Mediterranean Sea from the Gaza Strip due to the malfunction of all five treatment plants. Israeli restrictions on importing necessary equipment and fuel are hindering repairs, raising fears of sewage overflows with the onset of winter rains, which could endanger thousands of residents. According to UNRWA and UNICEF officials, Israeli authorities are aware of the pollution but continue to obstruct the entry of essential equipment for the sewage system's repair. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that heavy rains could cause several sewage ponds, including the Sheikh Radwan pond in Gaza City, to overflow. This pond contains hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of sewage, and its rising levels threaten nearby residents. Only one of the six pumps at this pond is operational, while UNICEF is working to repair the others and lower water levels before winter.

During the recent conflict, Israel destroyed Gaza's sewage transport and treatment infrastructure, leading to the shutdown of the five treatment plants. Despite a year passing since the ceasefire, Israel has refused to allow the UN to rehabilitate these facilities. Israeli authorities justify the restrictions on equipment, citing concerns that they could be dual-use items potentially aiding Hamas's military capabilities. The article also notes that while water scarcity during the war kept pollutants in the soil, the resumption of water supply has significantly increased sewage flow into the sea without adequate treatment.

The environmental impact extends beyond Gaza, as pollution from the Strip previously caused the Ashkelon desalination plant to shut down multiple times and led to swimming bans on southern Israeli beaches. Experts suggest that Gaza's sewage may have contributed to a recent proliferation of microalgae, which disrupted most Israeli desalination facilities.

The report also addresses the spread of rodents in Gaza and surrounding Israeli areas, affecting residents, farmers, and soldiers. While some Israeli experts acknowledge rodents entering from Gaza due to a lack of pest control, they attribute most of the problem to favorable winter conditions. Israeli agricultural officials and the Eshkol Regional Council met to increase the budget for rodent control from one million to four million shekels.

In Gaza, the Israeli military is using drones to spray rodent control agents near its bases. The Israeli animal welfare organization "Let Animals Live" has received reports from soldiers about nine dogs dying near a military site, suspected to be from poisoning due to these agents. The organization has been receiving such reports since October 8.

Regarding the sewage infrastructure repairs, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) stated that Gaza's reconstruction will not begin until Hamas is disarmed, aligning with Israeli political directives. COGAT claims that despite this stance, the IDF, through its coordination, permits the UN and international organizations to repair infrastructure and implement humanitarian projects in water and sewage. They assert that essential equipment for water and sewage infrastructure, including pipes, spare parts, generator fuel, sewage trucks, and pump fuel, has been allowed into Gaza in recent months in preparation for winter.