Reclaiming Power: Solar Powered Water Pumps in Gaza
For months, 12-year old Remas woke up every morning gripped by the anxiety of not knowing whether she would be able to find water for her family. Over the past year and a half since Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza began, it has destroyed energy and water infrastructure and cut off access to fuel and aid, in violation of international law. As a result, people all over Gaza have found themselves without food, water, or the fuel needed to operate local water pumps and basic energy needs. Children like Remas have to walk long distances, exposing themselves to extremely dangerous conditions, in an attempt to find drinking water for their families.
The violence inflicted on Gaza by Israel goes beyond bombs. It’s also a systemic denial of access to essential resources, including energy and water.
In 2024, members of the community in Deir Al-Balah set up a solar-powered water pump which gave 2000 people access to water without having to rely on diesel or gas powered generators. This project is a crucial stand for energy sovereignty, using solar power—an abundant, renewable resource—as a tool of resistance against oppression.
Israel has cut off the electricity supply to Gaza. At the beginning of March 2025 the second-largest desalination plant in Gaza, located in Deir Al-Balah, was running off generators at 30% capacity, but now it has had to completely shut down. This comes a week after Israel once again halted the entry of all humanitarian aid and commercial supplies, including fuel and food. Palestinian officials say people in Gaza could soon run out of clean drinking water.
Access to clean water and energy is a basic human right. By using solar energy to power their water pump, communities are stronger, more independent and resilient in the face of ongoing violence and oppression.
Sunlight is free. It knows no borders. And it’s available to everyone. Through this project, the community challenges the injustice of energy control by putting the power back into the hands of the Palestinian people. Energy and water sovereignty is not a privilege; it’s a fundamental right and key to building a just future.
Remas explains that her life has become a lot easier and calmer since the solar-powered water pump was established in her neighborhood. The solar panels not only power the water pump, but also allow people to recharge phones, batteries, and meet basic energy needs like keeping lights on. But as Remas says, Gaza needs many more projects like this one. “People desperately need water and support,” she explains. “I hope solar projects can be brought to these areas.”
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To support more solar projects in Gaza, donations can be made to PENGON at tiny.cc/gazasolar
Israel has cut off the electricity supply to Gaza and the desalination plant in Deir Al-Balah camp has now completely shut down. Palestinian officials say people in Gaza could soon run out of clean drinking water
But Palestinians are challenging the injustice of energy control by putting the power back into their hands, asserting their independence and resilience in the face of ongoing violence and oppression.
In 2024, members of the community in Deir Al-Balah set up a solar-powered water pump which gave 2000 people access to water without having to rely on diesel or gas powered generators.
The rooftop solar powers a water pump that has made it possible for the 2000 people living there to access water without having to rely on fossil fuel powered generators.
Children previously had to walk long distances, exposing themselves to extremely dangerous conditions, in an attempt to find drinking water for their families.
Through this project, the community challenges the injustice of energy control by putting the power back into the hands of the Palestinian people, asserting its independence and resilience in the face of ongoing violence and oppression.
The solar panels not only power the water pump, but also allow people to recharge phones, batteries, and meet basic energy needs like keeping lights on.
Remas explains that her life has become a lot easier and calmer since the solar-powered water pump was established in her neighborhood and highlights the need for more projects like this across Gaza.
“Without the solar panels we wouldn’t have water. Our life became easier. Before I would wake up feeling anxious. I was thinking about water all the time. Alhamdlilah, now it’s different.
When I wake up in the morning, I tell our neighbour that I need water. It doesn’t take long. We use solar energy for many things: filling water, recharging our phones, for the washing machine, we recharge our batteries with it. And turn on the light. Solar panels are very important in our life”
– Remas, a 12 year old girl living in Deir Al-Balah camp in Gaza, March 2025
More about the project
Credits
This video was produced by 350.org in collaboration with Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network PENGON / Friends Of the Earth Palestine. The solar powered water pump in Deir Al-Balah is a project of PENGON / Friends of the Earth Palestine.
Thank you to the community in Deir Al-Balah camp for generously sharing their story.