Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, pledged that Egypt will take the lead in rebuilding Palestine’s devastated water sector, describing the situation—particularly in Gaza—as a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
Speaking at a session titled “Enhancing Resilience through Strategic Investments in Palestine’s Water Sector” during the Eighth Cairo Water Week, Sewilam said that water has been used in Gaza as “a weapon of collective punishment,” with more than 90% of the enclave’s water infrastructure severely damaged or destroyed. As a result, 97% of available water is now unfit for human consumption.
He warned that Gaza’s wastewater systems have completely collapsed, contaminating groundwater sources relied upon by families. “Children walk kilometres for just a few litres of unsafe water, while hospitals struggle to maintain basic hygiene,” Sewilam said.
The minister also noted that the West Bank faces similarly dire conditions, with some communities receiving as little as 30 litres of water per person per day, far below the World Health Organization’s minimum standard of 100 litres. “What we are witnessing is not merely a technical crisis, but a humanitarian and moral one,” he stressed.
Reaffirming Egypt’s full solidarity with the Palestinian people, Sewilam said Egypt’s commitment “goes beyond words to action, cooperation, and shared responsibility.” With the prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza, he underscored that Egypt is determined “to turn this moment of hope into a moment of reconstruction and resilience.”
Sewilam announced that Egypt is ready to mobilize its technical expertise in hydraulic engineering, groundwater management, desalination, and wastewater treatment to support assessment and rehabilitation missions in Gaza and the West Bank. He also proposed engaging Egyptian private companies in rebuilding projects and collaborating with the Palestinian Water Authority to develop a comprehensive recovery and investment plan.
He outlined a framework for rebuilding Palestine’s water sector that focuses on immediate humanitarian response to restore access to safe water and sanitation, strategic investment in climate-resilient and decentralized systems, and regional cooperation to integrate Palestine within a shared water security framework.
The minister revealed that Egypt, which may host and lead the upcoming Gaza Reconstruction Financing Conference, will work to ensure that the water sector receives priority funding through a dedicated financing window for water and sanitation projects. This would be coordinated with Arab funds, international donors, and development banks.
Concluding his remarks, Sewilam called for the formation of an international coalition of Arab, regional, and global partners to rebuild Palestine’s water infrastructure. “Egypt will walk this path hand in hand with Palestine,” he declared, “and with all partners committed to justice, peace, and a sustainable future for our region.”
