Israel is facing weeks of water shortages after an algae bloom crippled much of its desalination capacity. Scientists say the crisis was triggered when Israeli attacks destroyed much of Gaza’s wastewater infrastructure, causing untreated sewage to flow into the Mediterranean. A bloom of microalgae stretching up to 100 kilometres long clogged filters at five of Israel’s six main desalination plants, which were shut down for days and have since operated at reduced capacity. Since October 2023, Israeli bombardment has destroyed 90 percent of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure, according to Médecins Sans Frontières. All five of Gaza’s wastewater treatment plants are out of service, leaving an estimated 45,000 cubic metres of untreated sewage to flow into the sea every day. The Zalul Environmental Association, an Israeli group, said: ‘Pollution does not recognise political borders.’ Jack Gilron, a desalination expert at Ben-Gurion University, said the discharge from Gaza increases risks to Israel’s water production infrastructure. In Gaza, residents say they walk with heavy containers or wait for hours in queues. Much of the water is unsafe, and children suffer recurring stomach infections, diarrhoea and skin rashes.