Flash quote from MSF’s Head of Mission in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
“On August 23, heavy gunfire broke out while people, including children, were gathered around one of MSF’s water-trucking distribution points in Khan Younis. In the chaos of the moment, it was not clear where these intense and consecutive bursts of gunshots were fired from.
A young girl waiting for water at the truck was shot in the ribs and evacuated by ambulance to Nasser hospital – this is the same hospital targeted by Israeli forces in yesterday’s attacks. Another man was shot in the hand. The rest of the crowd, including two MSF staff, managed to take cover under the truck. People should not have to risk their lives for water. We have repeatedly denounced this pervasive disregard for all human life in Gaza, and all necessities like water required to sustain human life This incident comes just two days after we released a video highlighting how people in Gaza are being deliberately deprived of water, clearly encapsulating that message. People are being blocked from accessing water – this time nearly paying with their lives.
The truck was clearly marked with the MSF logo and identifiable as a humanitarian vehicle. Despite this, the windshield, water tanks and tyres were hit during the shooting, which continued for more than 30 minutes. Similarly, nearby tented structures housing displaced people who had gathered for the distribution also sustained damage from the multiple sprays of bullets.
As with food, fuel and medical supplies, the Israeli military is restricting access to water to deadly levels. We continue to witness the devastating, man-made, and inhumane medical consequences of too little water for too many people, and the chaos that this calculated scarcity creates.
Now, life-threatening conditions are being created for people trying to access the small amount of water authorised by Israeli authorities into the Strip — water that is essential for survival. We cannot accept the risk of our water-trucking distribution sites becoming massacre sites, and due to this violent incident, water distribution was immediately suspended to protect staff and communities, further reducing its already limited availability.
All parties must facilitate the safe conditions required to distribute water.” - Helen Ottens-Patterson, MSF’s Head of Mission in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Hannah Hoexter