The Reverberating Effects of War on Water and Health in Gaza

This study assesses the reverberating effects of war-induced damage to water and sewage services on people’s health in Gaza since 7 October 2023 and discusses findings in terms of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and norms. It interprets publicly available data and first-hand observation through basic epidemiologic, engineering, and legal frames. To comply with IHL, military decision-makers are obliged to consider the reasonably foreseeable indirect impacts of their attacks when planning and conducting military operations and to facilitate the restoration of essential public services.