Algae Bloom and Gaza Sanitation Crisis Shut 5 of 6 Israeli Desalination Plants

An algae bloom originating from Egypt, compounded by destroyed sewage canals in Gaza, has forced five of six Israeli desalination plants offline, cutting nearly 80% of desalination capacity. The event underscores cross-border environmental and infrastructure fragility, with water supply risks for Israel and potential humanitarian fallout in Gaza. The duration of the shutdown and mitigation measures remain unclear.