July 29, 2025 – Gaza news updates

United Nations experts accused Israel of the deliberate “withholding of access to safe drinking water from Palestinians in Gaza,” saying Tuesday that “using thirst as a weapon to kill Palestinians” violated international law.

“Israel’s blockade and destruction of civilian infrastructure has left most of Gaza’s two million residents displaced and without access to the minimum vital amount of drinking water,” the UN experts said in the statement. It added that move “has led to deaths and widespread illness caused by water pollution, and a lack of sanitation and hygiene.”

The experts said that since October 2023, when the war began, “Israel’s military operations have repeatedly targeted water facilities, wells, pipelines, desalination units, and sewage systems,” which has resulted in 89% of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure being damaged or destroyed. This has left “over 90% of households water insecure,” the statement said.

CNN has reached out to the Israeli government for comment.

The Israel Defense Forces said over the weekend it had connected the power line from Israel to the desalination plant in Gaza, which would supply about 20,000 cubic meters of water per day.

UN experts are not UN staff, nor do they receive a salary for their work. They are independent human rights specialists appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, according to the UN.