Gazans face an even greater struggle to access clean water after Israel cut its electricity supply to the enclave, forcing the shutdown of a key desalination plant in what authorities describe as a “health and environmental catastrophe".
Phase one of a three-stage ceasefire in Gaza expired on March 2, with Israel and Hamas at loggerheads on how to move forward. The first six weeks of the cessation of hostilities included limited swaps of hostages for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel, Palestinians being allowed to return to the destroyed north of the enclave from displacement in the south, and entry of aid.
But last week Israel halted the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial goods to Gaza, pressing Hamas to accept an extension of phase one of the ceasefire, adding electricity on Sunday. Hamas wants to begin talks on the second phase of the agreements, which should include an Israeli withdrawal, the returning of the rest of the Israeli hostages and a permanent ceasefire deal.
The electricity supply ceased hours after Israeli Minister of Energy Eli Cohen announced it would be cut off as a pressure tactic on Hamas to release Israeli hostages held in Gaza. He said on Sunday: “We will avail ourselves of all means at our disposal to free the hostages and to ensure that Hamas will not be in Gaza on the day after.” Israel Electric Corporation has been ordered to stop selling power to the enclave.
Israel cut off all its electricity supplies to Gaza after the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel in which Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and kidnapped around 250 into the enclave. Power to Southern Desalination Plant was restored last November through a dedicated power line, called the F11 transmission line.
Munther Shoblak, Director General of the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility, said after the supply was cut off, the plant's production dropped from 18,000 cubic metres of treated water output per day to just 3,000.
"The plant supplies drinking water to about 1.2 million people daily, and with the return of residents to northern areas, cutting off its supply will impact 500,000 people."
The strip's water supply mainly comes from wells drawing from the Coastal Aquifer Basin, but overuse has impacted availability and quality. Otherwise Gazans rely on a handful of small desalination plants and lorries carrying water from outside the enclave. Since the war began in October 2023, the WHO has estimated each person has just 2-9 litres of water per day to use, compared with average use of 247 litres per person per day in Israel.
That number could drop further as the Southern Desalination Plant joins others in the enclave in going offline due to damage or electricity supply.
Ibraheem Abu Oda, a 40-year-old resident of Khan Younis, said people now rely on extracting water from wells that were dug by residents. However, this process requires fuel to operate small generators that pump the water out and due to the continuing fuel shortage, this method has become costly and impractical.
"The Israeli occupation wants to exert all its pressure on civilians. They do not respect any laws, they just want to show that they control everything," he said.
Ismael Thawabta, the director of the Government Media Office in Gaza, told The National that the suggering of the Palestinian people has been worsened by the decision to cut off power.
“By cutting off electricity to the desalination plant in southern Gaza – the last remaining source of power – Israel has intensified the suffering of the population after depriving the Strip of energy since October 2023. This move represents a blatant violation of international law and worsens the catastrophic humanitarian conditions our people are enduring, especially as essential aid and supplies remain blocked from entering the territory," Mr Thawabta said.
He further condemned the decision, stating: “This criminal act is not only aimed at disabling the desalination plant but also at depriving more than 2.4 million people in Gaza of their fundamental right to water. Such actions constitute collective punishment and a full-fledged war crime under international law."
Mohammed Thabet, Director of Media at the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company, described the power cuts as a “health and environmental catastrophe," and said the company's ability to restore power is entirely dependent on access to power distributors and necessary equipment, which have not been allowed into the Strip.
“None of the urgent equipment requested by the Electricity Distribution Company has been permitted entry," he said in a statement, emphasising that the blackout is also hindering the reopening of schools and resumption of education. He said small generators are needed to power water wells.
According to Thabet, Israel previously supplied the Gaza Strip with 10 main power lines, all of which were severed after October 7, 2023. Now, he says, 70 per cent of the electricity distribution networks in Gaza have been completely destroyed, 90 per cent of the EDC's warehouses and storage facilities have been demolished and 80 per cent of the company’s vehicles and equipment have been damaged beyond use.
The worsening situation is having a direct and devastating impact on civilians.
Mr Abu Oda warned that the shutdown of the desalination plant will have severe consequences for daily life in Gaza. “With food and water already in short supply, this step will accelerate the deterioration of the humanitarian situation. We were already forced to buy drinking water at high costs, but now we may not find any water to drink or use at all."
Israeli negotiators were in Qatar on Monday for indirect negotiations with Hamas, and US envoy Adam Boehler said on Sunday a deal could be reached "within weeks".
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
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Teaching in coronavirus times
The Comeback: Elvis And The Story Of The 68 Special
Simon Goddard
Omnibus Press
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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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- Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the Road to War by Tim Bouverie
- Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy
- Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
- Follow Me, Akhi: The Online World of British Muslims by Hussein Kesvani
- Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS by Azadeh Moaveni
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
