A Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) water truck that was distributing 10,000 liters of drinking water in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City was attacked by Israeli forces on Monday. The vehicle, clearly marked as part of MSF, had its route and schedule pre-communicated to Israeli authorities.
MSF condemned the attack, stating it “cannot be dismissed as an error,” and described it as a deliberate effort to undermine the distribution of water to civilians, particularly the impoverished, the sick, and the most vulnerable populations living in tents or the rubble of destroyed homes.
This incident is part of a broader pattern in which Israeli forces have targeted healthcare, humanitarian aid, and social infrastructure across the Gaza Strip. On September 16, an MSF nurse, Hussein Alnajjar, succumbed to shrapnel injuries sustained from an airstrike near his tent five days earlier. Alnajjar was the thirteenth MSF worker killed by Israeli actions since the outbreak of hostilities, which have also resulted in the deaths of medics and humanitarian personnel from the Palestinian Red Crescent and UNRWA.
Healthcare services in Sheikh Radwan and other parts of Gaza have nearly collapsed. Following Israel’s announcement of a ground invasion of Gaza City, residents have received air-dropped eviction notices. According to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, the presence of booby-trapped armored vehicles has increased, posing a threat to residential neighborhoods.
MSF emphasized that for most trapped residents, leaving Gaza City is not a feasible option. Factors such as enforced famine, severe restrictions on aid, and deteriorating personal health have left many individuals unable to relocate. Additionally, the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure and soaring inflation in the costs of land, food, and tents make relocation financially unfeasible for a significant portion of the population.
Until September 12, MSF supported the only remaining health center with an emergency room in Sheikh Radwan, treating approximately 1,100 patients weekly. With escalating military operations in the area, the Ministry of Health has sought to relocate this clinic, but no solution has been identified. Patients and medical staff find themselves caught between the dangers of staying and the impossibility of leaving.
The continuation of medical aid and water distribution services is vital for survival amid worsening conditions of violence and famine. Ongoing attacks on these essential services indicate a grave denial of basic human rights faced by Palestinians in the region.
The original article, titled “MSF: Israeli attack on Gaza City water site ‘cannot be dismissed as an error,’” was published by Maktoob Media.
Tags: Israeli attack, Gaza City, water site, MSF, humanitarian crisis
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