SAFA — Gaza City is facing an unprecedented collapse in essential municipal services, while hundreds of buildings damaged by Israeli attacks have become “ticking time bombs” threatening residents, Mayor Yahya al-Sarraj has warned.

Al-Sarraj said vital sectors, including water, sewage, sanitation and road clearance, are suffering from near-total paralysis because of the massive destruction of the city’s infrastructure.

“The service reality in the city has reached catastrophic and unprecedented levels,” al-Sarraj told the daily newspaper Felesteen, adding that the municipality can currently provide only temporary emergency solutions that fall far short of the city’s needs.

Al-Sarraj described the water and sewage crisis as the most serious threat facing residents, saying daily water availability has fallen from around 90 litres per person before the war to just 10 litres at best.

Damage to wells, pumping stations and water and sewage networks has increased the risk of wastewater leaking into streets and the sea. Al-Sarraj also warned of signs of contamination in several local wells and fears that pollution could reach groundwater.

The mayor also warned that hundreds of structurally damaged buildings across Gaza City have become “ticking time bombs” that could collapse on residents without warning.

The danger was underscored by the recent collapse of a six-storey residential building in Gaza City that had previously been damaged by Israeli attacks and was sheltering displaced Palestinian families.

Al-Sarraj also said rubble and destruction around schools are obstructing efforts to restore education, warning that the continuation of schooling requires sustained humanitarian and international support.

The municipality lacks the heavy machinery, equipment and materials needed to remove rubble, reinforce unstable buildings and repair devastated infrastructure, he said.

Al-Sarraj called for the urgent entry of heavy machinery, lifting and clearance equipment, structural reinforcement materials and other essential supplies needed to address the growing danger.

He also called for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza and the full reopening of crossings to allow essential equipment and materials into the enclave, stressing that temporary repairs cannot address the scale of destruction and that Gaza City requires comprehensive reconstruction.