Israel’s war on Gaza forces Palestinians to rely on ‘Stone Age’ toilets

Deir Al-Balah, Gaza – Eman Mahmoud Shamia has been uprooted several times since Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza began in October 2023, before finally settling into a new home – a tent in a camp.It provides rudimentary shelter for 33-year-old Eman, her husband, Yahya Shamia, 50, and their five children, all under 11, but it lacks many of the basic amenities her old home provided.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Israeli army and settlers injure several Palestinians across West Banklist 2 of 4Israeli wounded in occupied West Bank stabbinglist 3 of 4Where water conflicts pose the biggest threat in 2026list 4 of 4Israeli air strike near Gaza refugee camp kills one person and injures twoend of listWith the help of a worker who specialised in digging soakaway underground drainage pits, the community in the camp built a “municipal toilet”. It provides relief but Shamia said it reminds her of the Stone Age.There is little in the way of privacy, particularly for women and children, and for some it is difficult to use or access, particularly for her husband, who suffers from an advanced stage of lung cancer.“I am deprived of my basic right to have a proper toilet seat in my tent. ...