Municipal Services Under Siege

What is going on today encapsulates all episodes of the 76-year-long Israeli occupation of Palestine. It represents the culmination of eight decades of Israel’s tyranny, which has cost Palestinians dearly. Witnessing the loss of thousands of lives and large-scale destruction, it is clear that the occupation has now taken on new proportions that do not only impact citizens, but all sectors as well. 

Gaza Municipalities in Confrontation of Spatial Destruction and Reshaping Geography

The targeting of municipal services is one facet of systematic assaults in all the wars launched by the Israeli occupying forces (IOF), which have not spared any aspect of life. During the 2023 war on Gaza, the IOF have committed genocide, unmatched in history, against Palestinians. Service facilities have been subject to countless attacks. A number of municipal structures and machineries, which serve citizens, have been destroyed. Attacks have resulted in the destruction of roads and most service infrastructure, including water tanks, wastewater treatment plants, and water wells. A large number of municipal staff were killed. At close intervals, the mayors of An-Nuseirat and Al-Maghazi were killed in Israeli airstrikes on their locations. All central administrative sectors, government bodies, civil society organizations and universities have been targeted. This is part of the occupation's efforts to restructure the administrative framework, as evidenced by the systematic targeting of key administrative sectors, institutions, government and civil headquarters, and universities.

The first stage of Israel’s plan has been completed, namely, spatial destruction and geographical engineering, including of homes and infrastructure. Now, Israel is finalizing the engineering of the demographic composition by targeting mukhtars, family representatives, community figures, and mayors, who serve as the emblems and authoritative references for local social cohesion. 

In an initial estimate, a joint report by the World Bank and United Nations (April 2024) assessed that infrastructure in Gaza sustained severe damage: 

• Total damage: US$ 18.5 billion as of January 2024.
• Residential buildings: 72% of total damage.
• Service infrastructure: 19% (water, health, and education).
• Rubble: 26 million tonnes.
• Humanitarian impact: 75% of the population are displaced; more than 2 million are homeless; health and education systems collapsed.
• Health facilities: 84% destroyed; water and wastewater system is in a state of near-collapse.
• Energy infrastructure: Near-complete destruction of electricity grids and main roads.

The IOF pay particular attention to destroying water networks, road systems, power generators and electricity stations. For example, the IOF destroyed power generators that operated water desalination and storage plants in Beit Lahiya and Al-Bureij, the electricity grid in Gaza, the water network in Al-Fukhari, 12 water wells and 15% of the water system in Al-Bureij, and six main water wells in Al-Maghazi. As LGU facilities and equipment have been out service, basic service provision has come to an almost complete halt. 

The relevance of LGU roles has multiplied in the face of the severe damage and challenges resulting from the war. It has been necessary to take urgent action to reduce the catastrophic effects on residential areas and infrastructure. However, LGU capacity to play their roles has been extremely limited due to the massive destruction of their premises and equipment. Statistics show that, while 40% of the Gaza LGU premises were totally destroyed, 36.8% of their respective equipment and heavy machinery sustained damage. Moreover, 55% of LGU generators suffered severe damage. 

For instance, total destruction was inflicted on the premises and facilities of the Abasan al-Jadida Municipality, leading to a full shutdown of services. Likewise, the Al-Bureij city hall incurred heavy losses of US$ 1 million. Extensive destruction was also caused to 30 facilities of the Gaza Municipality. 

Israeli airstrikes destroyed some 65% of road networks and more than half of residential houses. Consequently, enormous quantities of rubble have piled up, disrupting traffic and trapping local communities and displaced people. In the Al-Mawasi area, the Al-Qarara Municipality rehabilitated damaged dirt roads and removed and transferred 80 tonnes of waste accumulating on streets to temporary dumpsites. During the first month of the war, the emergency committee at the Al-Mughraqa Municipality cooperated with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing staff to clear roads and remove the rubble of bombed houses. LGUs pay particular attention to collecting and removing waste from streets. A case in point are the Rafah Municipality teams, which operate in spite of IOF incursion into the area. 

The Israeli aggression has caused a sharp water crisis. Still, Gaza LGUs have worked hard to provide potable water to citizens after repairing damaged water networks and pumps broken by airstrikes. The An-Nassr Municipality managed to maintain water pipelines targeted by the IOF. After water networks were destroyed by the IOF, the Bani Suheila Municipality installed and connected temporary water pipelines to several neighbourhoods in the city. The Deir al-Balah Munciaplity carried out extensive maintenance of water networks throughout the city. 

To address health challenges posed by waste accumulation and wastewater flowing into the Gaza Strip streets, LGUs are doing all that is necessary to collect and dispose solid waste and repair sewer lines. The Az-Zawayda Municipality repaired and maintained a number of sewer lines. According to the resources available, emergency teams of the Khuza’a Municipality monitored and devised solutions to sanitation issues and provision of water supply to shelters in Khan Yunis. The Al-Mughraqa Municipality took measures to pump and dispose over 1,800 cubic metres of wastewater every day by septic trucks and pumping stations for as long as possible before they ceased to operate. 

In the context of their efforts to alleviate public suffering, LGUs carry out regular site tours to assess damage to infrastructure and meet citizens’ needs. These include comprehensive surveys to ensure the provision of water and electricity supplies, removal of hazardous waste, rescue of persons trapped under the rubble, and delivery of healthcare at shelters. For instance, in cooperation with engineering teams, the Khuza’a Municipality cleared unexploded ordnance to protect citizens’ lives. The Khan Yunis Municipality contributed to rescue operations and recovery of people trapped under the rubble. In addition, all LGUs clean and sanitize shelters to ensure the safety of displaced people. 

Israel’s systematic destruction of the Gaza infrastructure has seriously obstructed future development. Having targeted archives, cultural centres and administrative offices, destruction seems to be part of a broader effort to erase the history and destabilize the future of Gaza. Destroyed city halls included urban planning records and water system maps, which are indispensable for urban planning and basic services, disrupting long-term reconstruction efforts. Israeli airstrikes also devastated central archives, which housed over 150 years of urban and social records, as well as vital water and sanitation infrastructure documents. 

War Tactics in Gaza Strip Affect the West Bank 

Israel has been waging a destructive and genocidal war on the Gaza Strip for almost a year, rendering it uninhabitable. Meanwhile, Israel is implementing a variety of measures which, albeit less abominable, serve the same goal. Gangs of settlers operate as a parallel army along with the IOF, playing a dangerous role as the IOF who commit daily crimes against Palestinians. 

While the eyes of the international community are set on the ongoing events in Gaza, the West Bank is witnessing the broadest acts of aggression by settlers. In addition to settlement expansion, settlement councils are playing a leading role in these abuses. Assaults involve forced population displacement, often at gunpoint, and closure of access roads between Palestinian cities, towns and villages. 

Apparently, the incidents taking place since 7 October in the West Bank are not merely a sharp escalation of settler violation, but further reflect an institutional shift in the role of settlement councils. These have been vested more powers and jurisdictions than even before. Meantime, Israel is engineering the demographic position by ruthless oppression and a soft permit regime. This approach is designed to wipe Palestinians out of existence, both physically and historically. 

As a result of intensive military campaigns, particularly against Jenin, Tulkarem and Nablus in northern West Bank, the death toll has risen to 681 Palestinians. Another 5,400, including children and women, have been injured. A total of 10,300 citizens were arrested by the IOF. At least 1,433 residential units were completely destroyed across the West Bank. 

The economic impact of the war was devastating on LGUs. Israel has prevented 85% of Palestinian workers from accessing their workplaces inside the Green Line, causing an economic loss estimated at US$ 1.6 billion. The Israeli government has withheld the same amount of tax revenues, collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. Hence, civil servant salaries have not been paid for months. Also affected was the tourism sector, on which some West Bank cities rely. The Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities recorded losses of some US$ 2,500,000 during the war. As its economy primarily depends on tourism, the Bethlehem city incurred 67% of these losses. 

The foregoing systematically hinders LGU functions. Municipalities and village councils cannot play their role to the fullest in a faltering economy and unstable security situation. This also debilitates citizens’ capacity to pay service fees and taxes. 

The devastation done to West Bank cities and villages has required a concerted effort by LGUs to address crises and challenges and to devise rapid and affective solutions in view of increasing Israeli attacks since the onset of the war on Gaza. The IOF have set fire to markets, homes and vehicles, levelled land and streets, and assaulted infrastructure, including water, sanitation, communications and electricity grids. In addition to arresting LGU staff, the IOF have sabotaged LGU property, machinery, and facilities. In the context of encroachments on Palestinian institutions, the IOF demolished LGU premises to cripple the operations of, and keep citizens apart from, their legitimate institutions. For example, the IOF demolished the building housing the Furush Biet Dajan Village Council. 

In the face of these challenges, LGUs have mobilized large-scale efforts to provide support through various sectors. LGUs have worked actively towards restoring damaged infrastructure by providing needed machinery and materials to repair roads, water networks and sewerage systems. To meet immediate needs, LGUs launched fund raising initiatives, played a pivotal role in coordinating international solidarity efforts, and advocated for urgent intervention to stop the war and protect Palestinians. 

LGU interventions went beyond financial support. A number of LGUs organized psychological relief and healthcare initiatives, focusing on children. LGUs provided legal support to citizens, whose land was under the threat of confiscation. Cases were filed to national and international courts, including the International Court of Justice, in coordination with human rights organizations, such as the Jerusalem Centre for Legal Aid, Land Research Centre and Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission. This action is tailored to document violations and lodge legal complaints against Israeli settlement policies.