Israel bombs 'Mirage' water tank in Rafah, putting facility serving 70,000 people out of service

Activists on social media circulated a video documenting the Israeli occupation army blowing up a main water tank north of Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip. Geolocation confirmed that the explosion, which occurred on February 2nd, targeted the 'Mirage' water tank, funded by the Turkish Red Crescent, which serves approximately 70,000 people in the eastern and northern areas of Rafah city, according to data from the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility in the Strip.

Satellite images obtained by journalistic sources, taken on February 3rd, showed the complete destruction of the tank and its surroundings. An Israeli soldier wrote on the video he shared on social media, 'We specialize in painting and minor renovations... Details in private messages,' in a sarcastic reference to the bombing operation.

According to local reports, the tank has a capacity of 3,000 cubic meters and has contributed to solving the water scarcity crisis for Rafah residents since its establishment. The Coastal Municipalities Water Utility had opened the tank as part of a project that included 3 wells and a transmission line in the 'Morag' area in July 2010, funded by the Turkish Red Crescent at a cost of 450,000 US dollars.

This targeting comes in the context of what UN experts described as a 'thirst war.' Experts had previously expressed their dismay at Israel's deliberate prevention of Palestinians in Gaza from accessing clean drinking water, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and a crime against humanity.

Experts said that 'Israel is using thirst as a weapon to kill Palestinians, and cutting off water and food is a silent, deadly bomb.' It is worth noting that since October 2023, Israeli military operations have systematically targeted water facilities, wells, pipelines, and desalination units, with occupation forces destroying 89% of Gaza's water and sanitation infrastructure, leaving more than 90% of households suffering from water insecurity.

Israel is using thirst as a weapon to kill Palestinians, and cutting off water and food is a silent, deadly bomb.