Palestinian wait to fill cans of water at a distribution point in southern Gaza Strip.

GAZA CITY — "We're going to have water! We're going to have water!" chanted Palestinian children while watching workers drilling in desperate search for water, which has been something of a rarity for the 1.4 million Palestinians in Gaza since Israel bombed the strip's only power plant two weeks ago.

"Water is a human right, it's life. But we don't have any, so what can we do? We have to have water," Nabhan Habboush, a father of 11 children, told Reuters.

"We couldn't wash, we couldn't clean our clothes, everyone stank," he said.

Making up his mind, the 60-year-old grandfather, who is a water expert, has sought to find out a solution to the water crisis.

Within hours, a crane was outside his front door, driving an industrial-sized drill through the neatly tiled pavement.

The next morning, the crane arrived at the area and a group of ten men were preparing to work.

"I just decided enough was enough. I had to do something," said Habboush, who spent more than 40 years working for the Gaza water authority.

"We only had about two hours of water every four or five days," he explained.

After breaking through the pavement tiles, the men drove the 30-cm-wide drill down 35 meters (115 ft) until they hit the water table beneath.

It took more than nine hours, and the expectant crowd stayed to watch it all.

"It's very exciting," said Habboush, breaking into a smile that showed off a silver-capped tooth.

The sweating workmen behind him pulled up the drill and prepared to drive a thick pipe down the hole to complete the spring.

"We'll have water by tomorrow, Inshallah."

Young boys played in the wet sand and dirt dredged up by the drill, while older relatives, babies on their knees, watched patiently.

At least 80 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since Israeli launched its open-ended offensive in Gaza on June 28 on claims to free a soldier taken prisoner by Palestinian resistance groups.

Nearly 2,000 Palestinians stranded at the Rafah terminal returned Friday home after Hamas fighters blew a six-meter (20) foot) hole in the border wall between Gaza and Egypt.

The Palestinians had been trapped on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing since July 25, after the terminal was closed down over the Israeli offensive on Gaza.

Worth It

Habboush always knew he was going to find what he was looking for under the streets of Gaza.

However, he was concerned whether water would be good enough to drink.

"We'll have to send a sample for testing, to see if it has too much ammonia or nitrates," he said.

"Even if we can't use it for drinking, we can use it for washing and cleaning."

Habboush said he paid about $3,000 for the crane and workers, just to strike the spring.

Another $1,000 will be needed to make sure the water flows into tanks above his houses.

"I'm doing it for the whole family, so of course it's worth it," he said.

In addition to the water quality, Habboush is concerned what the local authority will make of his decision to drill for water in a busy street without getting permission.

"It's a worry," he says, but he's hoping his long history with the water authority will stand him in good stead.

And if the water system starts working again soon, at least he'll have a back-up for the future.

The most pressing issue right now, he said, is organizing a party to celebrate, once the new-found water is flowing fast.

"We'll have to have a celebration. But for me, I just want to get myself wet and have a decent wash."