Continuing its genocidal policies against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the Israeli occupation, having relentlessly bombarded the Strip for over 15 months, is now employing starvation and the systematic destruction of basic civilian infrastructure as weapons of war. Despite a fragile ceasefire agreement, which Israel has repeatedly breached from its very first day, conditions in Gaza have sharply worsened following a new wave of oppressive measures imposed by Israel in early March 2025. On March 2, Israeli authorities completely halted the entry of humanitarian aid and fuel, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. This was followed by an even harsher measure on March 9, when Israel completely cut electricity supplies to the Strip, triggering a catastrophic breakdown in water, sanitation, and economic stability.
The electricity blackout forced the immediate shutdown of Gaza’s main water desalination plant in Deir Al-Balah, which provided clean drinking water to over 600,000 residents across central and southern Gaza. According to UNICEF’s urgent statement on March 11, the plant’s productivity dropped by more than 80%, leaving over half a million Gazans without access to clean water. UNICEF described the current water crisis as reaching “extremely critical levels,” highlighting that nine out of every ten residents now lack safe drinking water, significantly increasing the threat of waterborne diseases and outbreaks, posing an imminent large-scale health catastrophe.
The electricity crisis has also severely impacted other vital services, including wastewater treatment facilities, which have nearly come to a complete standstill. Humanitarian agencies warn that this could lead to an unprecedented environmental and health disaster. Additionally, since early March, international aid organizations have consistently raised alarms about dangerously limited food and medical supplies due to Israel’s total blockade of aid shipments into Gaza. On March 11, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor urgently warned that the continued closure of border crossings and the obstruction of humanitarian aid are quickly pushing Gaza toward mass starvation. According to their latest updates, at least 145 Palestinians have died and over 605 have been injured since January, casualties directly linked to deteriorating humanitarian conditions, severe food insecurity, and a collapse of essential medical and social services.
Human rights organizations hold Israeli authorities fully accountable for these deliberate and systematic violations against Palestinian civilians, describing them explicitly as acts of genocide through starvation and denial of basic life necessities. They urge the international community to immediately and effectively intervene to pressure Israel into lifting the siege, restoring electricity supplies, reopening crossings for aid and fuel deliveries, and ensuring urgent humanitarian assistance reaches Gaza’s two million residents before the situation escalates into a catastrophic, widespread famine.
