Israel’s military claimed Tuesday that it has connected a power cable to a large desalination plant in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to give more drinking water to Palestinian inhabitants of the war-torn territory.
According to a statement released by the Israeli military and COGAT, the organisation for civilian cooperation with the Palestinians, the power connection runs straight from Israel to a United Nations-managed desalination plant in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, preventing Hamas from using the new energy source.
Production will increase fourfold to 20,000 cubic metres of drinking water per day, according to the statement.
That is far from enough to supply the population of Gaza, which has been devastated by nine months of war.
“The increase in supply of water is a further step taken to support humanitarian efforts for Gazan residents, and to prevent contamination and outbreaks of disease during the summer months,” the statement said.
Israel has been under growing international pressure to allow in more aid and supplies to relieve the humanitarian crisis.
