The civilian population in the Gaza Strip is already experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe. A group of seven independent U.N. experts warned this week that an Israeli army ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was necessary to “avoid a serious threat of genocide.” The Spaniard Pedro Arrojo (Madrid, 72 years old), Special Rapporteur on human rights to drinking water and sanitation – member of the UN Group of Experts – approaches this scenario: “Although there is no obvious intention, the data shows that “The war is heading Genocide.” Their position is based on Article 7 of the Rome Statute, which defines extermination as “the deprivation of access to food or medicine, among others” such as water.
“Inevitably, illnesses will skyrocket [en Gaza] and many will die because they do not have access to the most basic medicines,” Arrojo told EL PAÍS by phone. This independent expert, also a professor at the University of Zaragoza, points out that “there is no more drinking water” in the Gaza Strip and that hundreds of thousands are drinking salty and unhealthy water to avoid dying of thirst.
“The situation has reached a catastrophic tipping point,” said this week this group of seven UN rapporteurs, holding not only Israel but also its international allies responsible for protecting the 2.2 million Palestinians living in the Palestinian enclave.
The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights to drinking water and sanitation, Pedro Arrojo, in a photo from 2018.Gustavo Amador (EFE)
The humanitarian aid convoys arriving in the Gaza Strip through Egypt’s Rafah border crossing are “so inadequate that they do not even cover 1% of the drinking water needed,” Arrojo said. The UN had already warned that Gazans have been living on less than three liters of water a day since the war began on October 7, well below the 50 liters recommended by the World Health Organization.
The seven rapporteurs also raised concerns about the safety of humanitarian workers and doctors, who are “protected by international law.” The statement, in which experts quote UN Secretary-General António Guterres, reminds both the Israeli army and Hamas that “even war has rules.” According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 9,227 people have died since Israel’s counteroffensive began, including nearly 4,000 children.
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Drinking unhealthy water
Gaza has three main sources of water: aquifers, desalination plants and pipelines leading to Israel. According to Arrojo, aquifers are being over-exploited as more than three times the naturally occurring water is being withdrawn from them. Not only does this reduce freshwater levels, but it also leads to “massive infiltration” of salt water, mostly from the Mediterranean.
Due to power outages in the Gaza Strip, desalination plants are only partially operational. Of the three in the enclave, only one is operating at 7% of its usual capacity, according to CNN. Before the war, 90% of supplies came from this source. “Shutting off the electricity means cutting off the water,” says the expert.
The last source, supplied by three pipelines linked to Israel and supplying 10% of the water used in Gaza, was shut down at the start of the war. The supply could only be partially resumed on October 15th (two of the three lines).
Faced with this scenario, Arrojo denounces that thousands of people consume salt water from agricultural wells that they extract manually “to live,” as long as they have enough fuel or energy to run the pumps. The main problem is that continuous consumption of salty and unhealthy water can cause illnesses such as diarrhea, which later results in dehydration or kidney failure. “If you drink this water you will vomit, but if you stop drinking it you will die in five or six days,” he added.
In addition to consumption, sanitary facilities are also at their limits. The five sewage treatment plants had to be closed, which caused them to mix with water from the aquifers and waste to accumulate in some streets, creating an even greater risk of diseases that can particularly affect children. “Statistics are being compiled on how many people die in airstrikes, but those who have become ill from consuming non-potable water remain in the shadows,” he says.
Stop the fire
Experts say it is important for Israel to declare a ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian access while allowing “opening of communication channels” to ensure the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel this Friday for the third time since the beginning of the conflict to demand more protection for the civilian population. “We must continue to prevent this conflict from escalating (…). “We must do more to protect Palestinian civilians,” Blinken said.
The White House defends the introduction of “humanitarian pauses” with specific goals, such as the introduction of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and allowing foreigners and the wounded to leave for Egypt; but rejects a ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out that option: “We will not stop until we achieve victory,” he said. He has also argued that he will not consider this alternative until all 242 hostages are released.
The UN General Assembly last week passed a non-binding resolution calling for an “immediate, permanent and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire.” The panel welcomed this measure with “hope” but believes action needs to be taken soon. For Arrojo, the dissenting votes – including those from the USA, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Austria – are “shameful and a disgrace”. “At least Spain has a worthy position,” he adds, pointing to the government’s support for the ceasefire.
Arrojo believes that the key to avoiding further escalation of the conflict lies with the United States together with Europe. “The major Western powers protect Israel and allow it to do whatever it wants.” The expert assures that more and more experts and even UN high commissioners are consolidating the narrative about the need to stop the attacks in order to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza . “Several discussions are opening in Geneva. No one now refutes my arguments that lead me to believe that a crime against humanity is being committed. The status [de Roma, el que regula el Tribunal Penal Internacional] is clear”.
Palestinians gather to fetch water in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip this Thursday.MOHAMMED SALEM (Portal)
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