Officials in the Gaza Strip's northernmost municipality on Monday accused Israeli forces of striking drinking water sources and infrastructure, during a weekend of violence that saw at least 18 dead in the coastal enclave.

Gaza's municipality released a report cataloging damage to the water infrastructure from artillery shells over the weekend, which included damages to the Al-Mintar water tank in Al-Quba area of Gaza City, which gives water to the eastern areas of Ash-Shuja'iyeh neighborhood.

The area was targeted for an estimated one third of strikes over the weekend, marked as the deadliest three days since the close of Israel's Operation Cast Lead, which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians in 22 days in the winter of 2008-9.

Damages to the tank were sustained, and one exploded shell landed inside the water reservoir. Officials said the shell rendered the water undrinkable, and stopped pumping from the tank, leaving a large swath of the eastern Gaza City residents without access to potable water.

With building materials still subject to Israel's blockade of Gaza, officials said they would attempt ad hoc repairs, and clean the tank for use.