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Israeli Army's 401st Brigade Destroys Rafah Water Facility, IDF Investigates Amid War Crime Allegations

Jul 28, 2024, 07:37 PM

The Israeli army has blown up a vital water distribution station in Rafah, Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation and allegations of war crimes. The destruction of the water reservoir, which was carried out by the Israeli army engineering corps and the 401st Brigade, has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where diseases like polio are spreading rapidly. This incident has drawn parallels to the 2003 death of American activist Rachel Corrie, who was killed by an Israeli bulldozer while defending a water facility in Rafah. The same facility, known as the Canada Well, was destroyed, and the event was shared in a now-deleted Insta story by a soldier. In October, an adviser to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant outlined a strategy to attack water treatment plants to induce thirst and hunger in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have launched an investigation into the demolition, which was allegedly approved by commanders and shared on social media by a soldier. Critics argue that the destruction of the water facility serves no military purpose and constitutes collective punishment.