The Hamas Movement has condemned Israel’s bombing of a water desalination plant in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, saying the attack and continued strikes on displaced Palestinians represent an ongoing assault on Gaza’s civilian population and a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said Monday that the destruction of the desalination facility, along with attacks on displacement areas and tents housing Palestinians forced from their homes, demonstrated that Israel was continuing what he described as a policy of displacement despite the ceasefire.

Qassem said the attacks showed “complete disregard” for the ceasefire agreement and stressed that the destruction of the Sheikh Radwan desalination plant constituted a direct violation of its provisions.

Israeli warplanes targeted the desalination plant and a nearby prayer hall north of Gaza City on Monday, completely destroying both facilities, according to the report.

The destruction comes as Gaza continues to face a severe water crisis following extensive damage to its water and sanitation infrastructure.

Water production in the territory has fallen from approximately 300,000 cubic meters per day before the war to less than 120,000, leaving Gaza with a water deficit of more than 60 percent.

The loss of another desalination facility is expected to further strain access to safe water for Palestinians, particularly those living in overcrowded displacement areas.

Monday’s reported ceasefire violations killed five Palestinians and wounded others, including a girl. Another Palestinian died from wounds sustained in an earlier attack.

The latest casualties add to the toll recorded since the ceasefire came into effect in October 2025.

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, more than 73,420 Palestinians have been killed and over 174,360 wounded since Israel began its war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

Since the ceasefire took effect, Israeli violations have killed 1,286 Palestinians and wounded 4,257 others, according to the ministry.

The ceasefire agreement, reached following negotiations mediated by the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye in Sharm el-Sheikh, took effect in October 2025 and called for an end to attacks on Gaza.

US President Donald Trump announced on July 31, 2026, that an agreement had been reached to activate the second phase of the plan. The next phase includes the deployment of an international stabilization force, a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the transfer of administrative responsibilities to a national committee.

However, implementation has faced significant obstacles, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reported refusal to proceed with a withdrawal before Hamas and other resistance factions are fully disarmed.

Hamas has continued to accuse Israel of violating the ceasefire through military attacks, while Israel has maintained that its military actions are aimed at security threats.

The destruction of the Sheikh Radwan desalination plant has added a critical civilian infrastructure issue to the broader disputes threatening the fragile ceasefire, with Gaza’s population continuing to face severe shortages of water, shelter and essential services. (ILKHA)