UNICEF Says Israel Blocks Gaza Basin Repairs
UNICEF said on Tuesday that Israel has blocked Gaza basin repairs, warning that a stormwater basin in Gaza City could overflow and endanger nearby residents through flooding and disease. The UN children’s agency said the Sheikh Radwan basin is now contaminated with sewage and at risk of overflowing after heavy rainfall.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told reporters in Geneva that the agency had worked with Israeli authorities and US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace for a year on a $3 million plan to repair the basin. He said COGAT, the Israeli military agency that oversees humanitarian affairs in Gaza, had rejected the project in the past few days.
“Toxic sewage could flow into the streets and tents of Gaza City, forcing children and families from their makeshift homes once more, and grossly increasing the threat of disease. So we’re a bit baffled,” Elder said. “Let’s do the rehabilitation before this becomes another entirely preventable killer of girls and boys in Gaza.”
COGAT did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Elder said it had cited security grounds, in an apparent reference to strict Israeli rules on the entry of items that could also be used for military purposes.
Why Gaza basin repairs matter now
The Sheikh Radwan stormwater basin is one of the main drainage facilities in Gaza City. Only two of its six pumps still work, according to UNICEF. Rainwater mixed with sewage is building up in the basin, and heavy rain could push the contaminated water into the streets and tent camps around it.
Heavy rain this week has already flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip. A mother and her three children, aged four, five and eight, were killed over the weekend when a sand dune collapsed onto their tent in Deir al-Balah after heavy rainfall, UNICEF said. The rains have affected more than 106,000 people across Gaza, damaging or destroying tents, latrines and household goods.
Disease risk rises as winter sets in
World Health Organization spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told the same briefing that there were significant communicable disease risks in Gaza because of flooding, poor sanitation and weak health and water services. He said nearly one million displaced people across Gaza now faced medium or high flood risk.
UNICEF said it has been seeking approval from Israeli authorities for more than a year to bring in the equipment needed to repair the facility. The agency has called for the immediate entry of pumps, generators and spare parts to repair the basin and the Sheikh Ejleen wastewater treatment plant.
UNICEF and its partners are distributing tarpaulins, winter clothing, blankets and hygiene supplies to families hit by the flooding. The agency has also appealed for urgent funding of $97.5 million for its winter response in Gaza.
What the ceasefire has not fixed
A US-brokered ceasefire last year called for the eventual reconstruction of Gaza, but little progress has been made. Negotiators have failed to agree on terms for Hamas to disarm or for Israel to withdraw its troops. That deadlock leaves Gaza’s broken water and sanitation systems without a path to repair, and the basin dispute shows how the gap between the ceasefire deal and the facts on the ground is widening as winter arrives.
The Board of Peace set up by President Trump has already warned that Israel is moving too slowly as floods hit Gaza. Israeli forces shot dead a 14-year-old boy in the West Bank this week, Palestinian officials said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed that Gaza aid be sent without delay. A new Israeli parliament was sworn in this week as Gadi Eisenkot seeks to form a government.
Frequently asked questions
What has UNICEF said about the Gaza basin?
UNICEF said Israel has blocked the equipment needed to repair the Sheikh Radwan stormwater basin in Gaza City. The agency warned the sewage-filled basin could overflow after heavy rain and endanger nearby residents.
What is the Sheikh Radwan basin?
It is a stormwater basin in Gaza City that drains rainwater from the area. Only two of its six pumps still work, and the basin is now contaminated with sewage.
Why were the repairs blocked?
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said COGAT, the Israeli military agency overseeing humanitarian affairs in Gaza, rejected the repair project in the past few days. He said it had cited security grounds.
How many people have the Gaza floods affected?
UNICEF said heavy rains have affected more than 106,000 people across Gaza. Nearly one million displaced people now face medium or high flood risk, according to the World Health Organization.
What is UNICEF asking for?
UNICEF has called for the immediate entry of pumps, generators, spare parts and other materials needed to repair Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure. It has also appealed for $97.5 million for its winter response in Gaza.
