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The Gaza conflict continues to escalate, with devastating consequences for civilians. Since October, 677 Palestinians have been killed and 1,800 injured in Israeli strikes across the territory. The attacks have averaged about 10 per day over the past five months, leaving a trail of destruction and despair.Abed Elrahman Hamdouna, a 31-year-old father of two and volunteer ambulance driver, was killed in a reported drone strike west of Gaza City. His death is a stark reminder of the ongoing risks faced by healthcare workers in the conflict zone. Hamdouna's family had been worried about him the most during the war, given his role in helping injured people.The Israeli military's actions in Gaza have been widely criticized, with UN experts accusing Israel of 'medicide' and deliberately targeting healthcare workers and facilities. The destruction of Gaza's healthcare system has had a catastrophic impact on the population, with over 1,500 healthcare workers killed in the war.The conflict has also had a profound impact on the mental health and well-being of those affected. Hamza Nabhan, a medical student, described the despair and hopelessness that has become a daily reality for many in Gaza. 'I think about how to wake up, charge my phone, fill my water container. I don’t think about tomorrow.'The international community has expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with Amnesty International accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. The organization has called for an end to the violence and for those responsible to be held accountable.

Iran has issued a stark warning to Gulf countries, threatening 'irreversible destruction' of their water infrastructure if the US follows through on its threat to attack Iran's electricity grid. This move has raised fears of a severe disruption to water supplies in the region, which heavily relies on desalination plants for drinking water.The Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, are highly dependent on these plants, with some countries relying on them for up to 90% of their water supply. For example, Kuwait gets 90% of its water from desalination plants, while Saudi Arabia relies on them for around 70%.Desalination plants are considered critical civilian infrastructure in the Gulf, as they turn seawater into drinking water through a process called reverse osmosis. These plants are situated on the coast, making them an easy target for an Iranian attack, and disabling them would have a significant impact on civilian populations and industries.Iran has already followed through on a similar threat in the past, targeting a desalination plant in Bahrain after one of its own plants was hit. Analysts have warned that any disruption to water infrastructure could trigger a major escalation in the conflict, given the potential economic and civilian impact.The impact of targeting desalination plants would be severe, with most Gulf countries only having water reserves to last around a week. If plants are struck and capacity is taken out, the impact would be quick and severe, potentially wiping out water supplies to major cities in a matter of days.