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Scientists are trying to assess possible environmental fallout from Gaza’s destroyed wastewater infrastructure, the report said.  In an alarming development, the algae bloom spread along Israel's Mediterranean coast, disrupting seawater desalination plants that provide much of the country's drinking water, CNN (https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/04/climate/microalgae-bloom-israel-water-deasalination-shutdown) reported , citing Mekorot, Israel's national water company. Desalination provides at least 65 percent of Israel's drinking water, with most plants located on the coast. “An event of this kind has never occurred before in Israel … it was an extremely rare event,” said Lior Gutman, a spokesperson for Mekorot.  Read more: (https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-destroyed-sewage-system-linked-rare-algae-bloom-shutting-israel-desalination-plants) Gaza’s destroyed sewage system linked to ‘rare’ algae bloom shutting Israeli desalination plants  (A worker inspects a valve at the Southern Gaza Desalination plant, which stopped working after Israel cut off the electricity supply to the Gaza Strip on 10 March 2025. 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