GHLands : The environmental and health crisis in the Gaza Strip is worsening as untreated sewage continues to flow into streets and rainwater collection ponds, following the destruction of most sewage networks, pumping stations, and treatment plants by Israel, as well as restrictions on the entry of the fuel and spare parts needed to operate and maintain them.
In Khan Younis, the municipality has been forced to discharge large quantities of sewage toward the sea, while other areas are facing the same problem, with sewage accumulating in streets, low-lying areas, and rainwater collection ponds. The situation is raising concerns over pollution and the spread of diseases, particularly among displaced people living in tents and overcrowded areas.
Khan Younis: Untreated Sewage Discharged into the Sea
Khan Younis Municipality spokesperson Saeb Laqan said that more than 30,000 linear meters of sewage networks and pipes had been destroyed. Municipal crews have also been prevented from accessing the main treatment plant and the main landfill in “Sufa,” east of the city.
As a result, the municipality has been forced to redirect sewage toward the sea to prevent flooding in low-lying areas and places where displaced people are sheltering.
Laqan said the municipality is “forcibly” pumping between 6,000 and 10,000 cubic meters of untreated sewage onto the beach every day. He warned that this is contributing to an increase in diseases and epidemics among displaced people living along the coast, in addition to spreading foul odors and causing “complete” pollution of seawater.
He also warned that the effects of the pollution could spread through sea currents to other areas of the Mediterranean basin.
Laqan called for international pressure to allow municipal crews to access the facilities and to permit the entry of the equipment, pipes, and spare parts needed to repair and operate the sewage system.
Gaza City: Six of Eight Pumping Stations Out of Service
In Gaza City, sewage networks and pumping stations have also sustained extensive damage, while most treatment facilities have ceased operating.
Gaza City Municipality spokesperson Husni Muhanna said the municipality’s ability to drain sewage had been severely reduced after pumping stations were targeted.
The municipality has managed to restart only two of the eight pumping stations, while six remain out of service. Around 220,000 meters of sewage networks have been destroyed, causing sewage to flood streets and low-lying areas and leak toward the coast.
More than 24,000 cubic meters of sewage reach the coast every day, creating what Muhanna described as a severe environmental crisis.
Sewage has also begun flowing into Sheikh Radwan Pond, which was originally designated for collecting rainwater but has now become a site for sewage accumulation after the surrounding infrastructure was damaged.
Mohammed Halawa, a displaced man living in a tent near a street affected by sewage, described the daily suffering caused by foul odors, flies, and mosquitoes.
He said the situation has made sleeping and eating difficult, adding that municipal spraying operations are no longer sufficient to address the problem.
A Risk Extending Beyond the Sea
Experts and international organizations have warned that the collapse of the sewage system is worsening pollution of water, soil, and coastal areas while increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), all six sewage treatment plants in Gaza were out of service in early September 2026, while around 70 percent of sewage pumping stations had stopped operating. More than 150,000 cubic meters of untreated sewage were being discharged into the environment every day.
The United Nations has warned that the rainy season is approaching, with millions of Palestinians living in crowded displacement sites that are vulnerable to flooding. It has also warned of the risk of disease, while preparations for winter remain difficult due to funding and access constraints.
A UN report said that around 60 percent of Gaza’s population remains exposed to sewage or human waste within less than 10 meters of their homes, while more than 900,000 people are exposed to accumulated waste in residential areas.
UN data indicates that the water and sewage system has sustained extensive damage. The limited availability of sewage and waste-management facilities has contributed to the spread of rodents and insects, creating additional health and environmental risks.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has warned that the collapse of sewage infrastructure, the destruction of water networks, and the use of soak pits during the war are likely to have increased groundwater contamination, particularly as Gaza’s residents rely heavily on groundwater.
Marine and coastal areas are also likely to be polluted, although comprehensive testing remains difficult.
UNEP said environmental damage has also affected soil, vegetation, the coastline, and ecosystems. The destruction of buildings has generated around 61 million tons of rubble, some of which may contain asbestos. Prolonged exposure to asbestos can cause fatal diseases, while industrial waste and heavy metals also pose environmental risks.
“Suffering Under the Sand”
Farid al-Aqqad, a displaced man living in a tent on the Khan Younis beach for around a year and a half, described months of suffering caused by foul odors, insects, and diseases.
He said the situation has forced his family to visit clinics and hospitals every day, particularly because of illnesses affecting children.
Al-Aqqad said they can no longer use or even approach the sea because of the pollution. He warned that with the arrival of winter rains, seawater and sewage could mix and flood the tents, further worsening the tragedy.
He called on international institutions to urgently relocate displaced people away from polluted areas or repair the sewage networks, stressing that the current situation will make the rainy season even more dangerous for thousands of families.
As winter approaches, the sewage, water, waste, and rubble crises are converging to create a growing environmental and health threat. Municipalities are operating under extremely difficult conditions and with limited resources, struggling to maintain even the minimum level of essential services.
This is taking place as Israel prevents sufficient quantities of food, medicine, medical supplies, and shelter materials from entering the Gaza Strip for Palestinians under siege, after around 90 percent of the infrastructure in the Strip was destroyed during the genocide war.
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