Canada Demands Israel To Investigate Incident Of Detonating Water Facilities In Gaza

ILLUSTRATION / Youth carrying a bucket filled with water through the road in the West Bank / UNRWA DOK

JAKARTA - Canadian International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said his party demanded Israel investigate the destruction of an important water facility in the southern Gaza Strip known as the Canadian Well.

"Canada has been in contact with the Israeli government for further information regarding the incident, and we are demanding an investigation," said a spokesman for Olivia Batten, according to the Canadian Press national news agency reported by ANTARA, Friday, August 16.

Late last July, footage shared by Israeli soldiers via social media showed water facilities being detonated using explosives.

While the Israeli army said it was investigating what was happening at the shelter site of hundreds of Palestinians, Batten said the well is located in Tel al-Sultan, where Canada has played an important role in improving the quality of life of society.

Batten said destroying water wells exacerbated "bad water infrastructure," in addition, it also added to the difficulties faced by civilians in accessing clean water.

"The risk of hunger and widespread disease continues to increase and is exacerbated by the destruction of medical, humanitarian and civilian infrastructure like this," he added.

Israel, which opposes UN Security Council resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire, has faced international condemnation amid the brutal attacks that have continued in Gaza since last October 7 attacks by Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

The attack killed more than 40,000 people, most of whom were women and children, and injured more than 92,400 people, according to local health authorities.

More than 10 months after the Israeli attack, much of Gaza's territory was destroyed by food blockades, clean water and crippling medicines.

Israel, accused of committing genocide in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), was ordered to immediately halt its military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where more than one million Palestinians sought refuge from war before being attacked on May 6.