Under the weight of Israel’s siege on the Gaza Strip, Palestinians now face a severe environmental crisis with some streets submerged in sewage water, Al Jazeera reports.

The situation has worsened because of the shutdown of pumping stations caused by Israel’s blockade of fuel supplies and cutting off of electricity. Fears of the outbreak of disease are growing.

“Israel’s targeting of sewage stations, rainwater collection ponds, and main transport lines, alongside the fuel shortage required to operate generators, has led to a real disaster in the city,” said Gaza City municipality spokesperson Hosni Mahna.

“The situation is now out of control, and sewage is flooding the streets of a city already suffering from the effects of war.”

This crisis “threatens the spread of diseases in unprecedented ways, especially in densely populated neighbourhoods, along with the spread of foul odours, insects, and rodents”, Mahna warned.