Israel’s strategy to flood Hamas tunnels in Gaza with seawater is facing criticism over its potential impact on the basic conditions of life in the region. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have reportedly set up pumps at the Al-Shati refugee camp to pump millions of gallons of seawater into the tunnels.
The move, considered by some as a military tactic, has raised environmental concerns. Experts, including Mark Zeitoun, the director of the Geneva Water Hub, warn that pumping seawater into Gaza’s soil could seep into the aquifer relied upon by 2.3 million residents for drinking water.
Zeitoun stated, “Flooding the freshwater aquifer with seawater would go against every norm humanity has ever developed.” He expressed concerns about the potential catastrophic impact on Gaza’s already vulnerable water resource, emphasizing that it could ruin the conditions of life for everyone in the region.
The plan has sparked debates on its compliance with international humanitarian law and rules of war, with Zeitoun highlighting the potential violation of principles related to the protection of the environment in armed conflicts.
A spokesperson for the UN Environment Programme emphasized the need to protect the coastal aquifer and the fragile ecosystem of Gaza to prevent adverse effects on agriculture, industry, and the environment, ensuring the safe use of groundwater by the local population.
As Israel proceeds with trials in the area, the global community closely watches the situation, considering the potential humanitarian and ecological consequences of this military strategy.
