Amid ongoing conflict, Palestinians in Gaza’s Khan Younis are navigating streets flooded with sewage and dirty water. The war has devastated much of the enclave, turning it into a wasteland.
Residents report overflowing sewage entering homes and neighborhoods, raising serious health concerns. Mohammed al-Bayouk, a local resident, said, “The Israeli army caused significant damage when they entered Khan Younis, leading to sewage flooding our homes. The greatest suffering is what our children endure from the smell and health risks.”
Dr. Marwan al-Homs highlighted that the destruction of infrastructure and lack of clean water are major public health concerns. “The diseases and epidemics spreading in the Gaza Strip are due to the Israeli occupation’s destruction of infrastructure,” he stated.
The conflict began on October 7 when Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel’s offensive has killed nearly 38,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, and left the densely populated coastal enclave in ruins. The Gaza health ministry reports that most of the dead are civilians, while Israel claims that at least a third of the Palestinian casualties are fighters. Israel has also lost 317 soldiers in the conflict.