SAFA – Ongoing Israeli airstrikes and gunfire are worsening the humanitarian crisis in southern Gaza, leaving thousands of displaced Palestinians without reliable access to clean water and raising fears of widespread dehydration, residents and local officials said.

In the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis, continuous shelling and live fire have disrupted daily life and prevented water trucks from reaching displacement camps for several days, severely limiting access to one of the territory's most critical resources.

Residents of the Al-Iqlimi area said persistent gunfire around the camps has made it too dangerous for water tankers to enter, cutting off thousands of displaced families from regular water supplies.

Families Forced to Drink Saline Water

Displaced resident Ihab Abu Al-Batikh described living under constant threat, saying movement during daylight hours has become nearly impossible.

"From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., no one can move. Gunfire is intense and constant, and even tents are being hit," he said, explaining that families remain inside their shelters to avoid being shot.

With water deliveries suspended, Abu Al-Batikh said some residents have been forced to drink saline water, while others walk up to one kilometer to reach wells that provide only limited supplies.

Another displaced resident, Ibrahim Iyad Al-Kadash, said the shortage has made daily survival increasingly difficult, particularly amid soaring summer temperatures.

"We are living without water. It affects everything," he said, noting that water trucks that once arrived regularly have stopped because drivers fear coming under fire.

Residents also reported paying exorbitant prices for small quantities of water whenever it is available, while many have resorted to using unsafe water sources after local wells were damaged.

Near Al-Shakoush Junction, displaced resident Abdullah Awad Fawjo described conditions as among the worst in southern Gaza due to the proximity of Israeli military positions and continuous gunfire.

He said movement is heavily restricted throughout much of the day, forcing some families, particularly women and children, to leave the area in search of safer conditions.

Witnesses also reported that Israeli forces erected earthen barriers and installed a gate near the junction, further restricting access to and from the displacement camps.

Municipality Warns of Humanitarian Disaster

The Rafah Municipality warned that the suspension of desalinated water deliveries has placed thousands of displaced Palestinians at immediate risk of dehydration.

According to the municipality, 12 displacement camps housing approximately 2,500 families have been affected. Even before deliveries were halted, the camps received only about 150 cubic meters of water per distribution, an amount officials said fell well short of meeting basic humanitarian needs.

The municipality attributed the suspension to ongoing Israeli gunfire targeting roads leading to the camps and their surrounding areas, forcing water providers to suspend operations to protect their staff.

Local authorities called on the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and other humanitarian organizations to intervene urgently to ensure safe access for water trucks and other essential services.

Officials warned that unless deliveries resume immediately, water shortages could trigger a severe humanitarian and public health crisis, stressing that access to clean water is a fundamental right protected under international humanitarian law.

"There is no greater danger now than thirst," one municipal statement said.

The worsening water crisis comes after repeated Israeli attacks on water infrastructure throughout the war, including the bombing of water wells and desalination facilities, leaving large parts of Gaza with severely limited access to safe drinking water and further compounding the territory's humanitarian emergency.