GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Hamas said on Monday that Israel had not resumed water supplies for the Gaza Strip despite pledging to do so, while an Israeli official responded that some water was being provided to an area in the south of the enclave.
Israel stopped piping water to Gazans as part of a siege imposed after Hamas gunmen rampaged in its southern towns and village on Oct 7. On Sunday, Israel said that as part of an agreement with Washington it was resuming some supplies.
Hamas interior ministry spokesman Eyad Al-Bozom said on Monday there had been no resumption of water supplies: “The residents drink unhealthy water, posing a serious health crisis threatens the lives of the citizens.”
An aide to Israeli Energy and Infrastructure Minister Israel Katz said water was being supplied in the community of Bnei Sahila, near southern Khan Younis. The aide declined to elaborate on the amount of water being supplied.
Katz said on Sunday that resupplying water in southern Gaza would encourage Palestinian civilians to congregate there as Israel pummels Hamas targets in Gaza City to the north. Israel has told residents of the northern half of Gaza, including Gaza City, to leave for the south.
(Reporting by Nidal Al Mughrabi and Dan Williams; Writing by Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Alex Richardson and Peter Graff)
