Press release by Deir al-Balah Municipality

Within 72 hours, nearly 250,000 citizens were forcibly displaced, 25 shelters were put out of service, as well as a number of humanitarian facilities and the only hospital in the region.

A new displacement decision imposed by the Israelis on new neighbourhoods in the northeast of Deir al-Balah city has resulted in new suffering, another tragedy, and a deepening disaster for the residents, where nearly half of the population of Gaza lives.

These recent decisions by the Israelis which came within 72 hours, resulted in:

1- The only government hospital still operating in the southern Gaza Strip is out of service.

2- Forced displacement of nearly 250,000 citizens and the closure of 25 shelters.

3- Four new water wells have gone out of service, bringing the number of wells left to 14 wells to supply nearly 70% of the city’s population, which will exacerbate the situation for the residents and make it difficult for them to obtain water.

4- A threat to a main water tank in the city to go out of service due to its location next to Al-Aqsa Hospital. It is the only remaining tank after two previous tanks went out of service due to their location being in an area the Israelis are attacking.

5- The departure of a number of international relief organisations that were providing aid services to the people of the area, which will result in a food crisis — a situation already occurring due to the closure of the Rafah crossing nearly four months ago.

We call on the international community to intervene urgently to enable humanitarian service crews working in the humanitarian field, including municipalities, hospitals, and relief associations, to carry out their humanitarian duty to provide the required service to citizens.