The international humanitarian organisation Oxfam has accused Israeli forces of implementing a “military blueprint” in Lebanon – a strategy previously seen in Gaza – specifically aimed at the systematic destruction of water and sanitation systems.
Oxfam warns that the intentional targeting of water installations, which are indispensable for human survival, violates the Geneva Conventions and may constitute war crimes.
Israel's systematic attack on utilities
According to Oxfam's analysis, Israeli strikes are not merely collateral damage but a directed effort against infrastructure essential for civilian life. This includes targeting sites that were actively being rehabilitated after damage from previous conflicts.
- The Bekaa Valley: In the first weeks of the latest escalation, Israeli forces damaged seven critical water sources in just four days, cutting off supplies to nearly 7,000 people.
- Southern Lebanon: While Oxfam and its partners were managing 19 facilities providing water to 60,000 people, intense Israeli bombardment has now made these sites inaccessible, leaving remaining villagers without clean water.
- Total Infrastructure Collapse: Beyond water, the report details how Israel has destroyed electricity networks and bridges, effectively isolating entire towns and villages from vital services.
“Impunity on Full Display”
Bachir Ayoub, Oxfam's Lebanon Country Director, stated that Israel is repeating a pattern of attacking civilians, emergency personnel – including 12 medics killed in a single strike – and aid workers to maximise displacement and fear.
“The impunity Israel enjoyed in Gaza as it committed water war crimes is again on full display,” Ayoub stated. “The world has shown Israel can do what it wants… and again it is civilians who are paying the ultimate price.”
Long-term consequences
The report emphasises that this is a continuation of a devastating trend; during the 2024 escalation, Israeli strikes damaged 45 water networks, impacting half a million people. Oxfam warns that these renewed attacks will to:
- A surge in waterborne disease outbreaks.
- The permanent loss of livelihoods and agricultural areas.
- Mass long-term displacement, as communities will have no infrastructure to return to.
A call for global accountability
Oxfam is calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and a halt to Israel's occupation and invasion of Lebanese territory. The organisation criticised the international community's “complicit silence,” asserting that the weaponisation of water must be met with legal repercussions to prevent a total humanitarian collapse.