Citizens line up to get drinking water in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip (Al Jazeera)
In 2021, the head of the Palestinian Water Authority, Minister Mazen Ghoneim, said during the celebration of the start of operation of the central wastewater treatment plant in the Gaza and Central governorates, that by the end of 2020 and after the completion of more than 90% of the Water Authority’s plan to avoid the disaster that was imminent in the Gaza Strip, we can say The disaster is behind us and we are now working on completing the most important strategic project, which is the establishment of a central desalination plant with the aim of ending the water problem once and for all in the coming years.
However, two years after this statement, Israel decided to punish civilians in the Gaza Strip, not by setting them back, but by making their worst nightmares a reality that they live on a daily basis for years to come, in the hope that this will lead to their defeat in the post-war battle.
An investigation by Al Jazeera Media Network, based on satellite images, revealed a number of patterns adopted by the Israeli occupation forces to destroy drinking water and sewage networks in the Gaza Strip, and make their work impossible.
These styles varied to include:
Destruction of facilities inside stations.
Destruction and removal of solar panels.
Destruction of the environment surrounding the stations by removing residential buildings, bombing, and bulldozing around them.
Establishing main roads for the movement of Israeli forces next to the stations.
First: sewage stations
Beit Lahia Station
A comparison between satellite images of the station in May 2022 and December 2023 shows a clear decline in the water level within some of the station’s basins during the aforementioned period.
In addition, the images show the impact of military bulldozing in the eastern area of the station, and it is also possible to see the partial or complete destruction of facilities east of the station and the remains of destroyed facilities south of the station, which were destroyed between 11 and 16 last November.
The photos taken on November 16 clearly reveal the significant impact of the demolitions, and a careful examination of the photos shows the major changes in this area, as entire residential blocks were destroyed.
A photo of the same station site on December 31, 2023 shows a clear increase in the percentage of destroyed facilities. The complete destruction of more than one facility is also noted, and traces of bombing resembling a belt of fire are clearly visible next to the station’s docks.
Satellite image of the Beit Lahia sewage station in 2021 (Google Earth)
Satellite image showing the damage to the Beit Lahia sewage plant and the surrounding area (Planet Labs)
North Gaza Station (Beit Hanoun)
Satellite images show that the northern Gaza station (Beit Hanoun) stopped operating completely after the attack on October 7, 2023, which shows the drying up of the water basins in the station, and traces of a military bombardment south of the station.
Our comparison of satellite images shows the destruction of the station's solar panels between January 18 and 19, 2024.
A photo taken on January 20 clearly shows the effects of destruction, and you can also notice the presence of a road south of the station that is used for Israeli military vehicles.
A picture of the sewage station in Beit Hanoun before it was bombed (Google Earth)
Effects of the destruction and Israeli bombing of the Beit Hanoun press station and the surrounding area (Planet Labs)
Gaza Central Station
A comparison between satellite images from April 2021 and January 2024 reveals major changes in the area surrounding the station, the most important of which is the Israeli forces surrounding the station and establishing outposts and security points around it since last November, and this is evident from the images taken on November 3. November 2023, where a medium-quality image indicates the tangible effects of these movements.
The pictures also show prominent traces of bulldozing in the vicinity of the station, along with some traces of bombing in the surrounding areas.
In addition, it shows the main supply and movement line for the Israeli forces in the central region, which was reflected in the station and its work.
This explains the significantly low water level in the station's basins.
Satellite image of Gaza Central Station in April 2021 (Google Earth)
Effects of the destruction and Israeli bombing of the Gaza Central Sewage Plant and the surrounding area (Planet Labs)
Bureij station
A comparison between satellite images from July 2022 and January 2024 shows clear effects of destruction inside the treatment plant.
The destruction included the solar energy panels at the station and the station’s facilities between 10 and 13 January 2024.
The pictures clearly show the extensive damage to the station and its surroundings during this period of time, in addition to the effects of extensive military bulldozing in the area surrounding the station.
A satellite image of the Bureij sewage station on May 7, 2022 (Google Earth)
Effects of the destruction and Israeli bombing of the Bureij sewage station and the surrounding area (Planet Labs)
Khan Younis station
A comparison between satellite images from July 2022 and January 2024 shows a decrease in the water level in some treatment plant basins and the appearance of signs of drought, but to a lesser extent compared to the northern and central areas of the Gaza Strip.
Satellite images, taken between October 20 and 22, 2023, also show partial destruction of the station’s solar panels, and this destruction expanded to include the destruction of all of the station’s solar panels between February 28 and 29, 2024, as shown in Satellite images.
A satellite image of the Khan Yunis sewage station on May 9, 2022 (Google Earth)
Effects of the destruction and Israeli bombing of the Khan Yunis sewage station (Planet Labs)
Second: Water desalination plants:
The investigation also showed an example of the Israeli occupation forces deliberately bombing and destroying water desalination plants that help provide clean drinking water to citizens inside the Gaza Strip. We chose two examples from the northern Gaza Strip to show the severe damage to two water desalination plants through satellite images.
Sudanese water desalination plant
On February 4, 2024, the media reported that the Israeli army had destroyed the largest desalination plant in the northwestern Gaza Strip, which was located in the Sudaniya area, west of Gaza City.
A photo taken on November 1 showed the station’s surroundings being bombed, then satellite images began showing damage to buildings surrounding the station from November 5, 2023.
The photo from last November 21 shows the rear buildings completely destroyed, with the main building partially destroyed.
Effects of the destruction and Israeli bombing of the desalination plant in the Sudaniya area (Planet Labs)
Abdul Salam Yassin Company
The company's station showed no damage as of November 15, 2023.
However, the next day, on November 16, 2023, the station was bombed, causing it to burn almost completely.
A photo from the day after the attack on November 17 shows the extent of the destruction that befell the station, which is still out of service to date.
Satellite image of the Abdul Salam Yassin Desalination Company plant (Google Earth)
Effects of the destruction and Israeli bombing of the Abdul Salam Yassin Water Desalination Company (Planet Labs) plant.
Source: Al Jazeera