…Human Rights Groups Highlight Severe Water Shortages Amid Ongoing Conflict
Israel’s policies towards the Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the West Bank, have been sharply criticized for allegedly enforcing severe water restrictions. This was contained in a press statement by Palestinian envoy to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abdullah Shawesh.
According to a report by B’tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, Israeli settlers consume significantly more water than Palestinians in these regions. The report reveals that Israelis, including settlers, use an average of 247 liters of water per day, while Palestinians in the West Bank only use 82.4 liters per day. Furthermore, Palestinian communities not connected to the water grid have an even lower average daily consumption of just 26 liters per person.
The report highlights that 92% of Palestinians in the West Bank rely on water storage tanks to mitigate chronic water shortages. These disparities have raised serious concerns about the humanitarian conditions in the occupied territories.
According to Shawesh, in Gaza, the situation is even more dire. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has reported that Israel has systematically reduced the availability of potable water for Gaza residents, destroying over 700 wells and water desalination plants since October 2023. This destruction has caused the per capita share of water in Gaza to plummet by 97%, leaving the 2.3 million residents with severely limited access to clean water. As a result, many are now forced to drink contaminated well water, posing significant health risks.
These allegations have prompted calls for international intervention. Human rights advocates urge the global community to exert diplomatic, economic, legal, and political pressure on Israel to comply with international law and address the humanitarian crisis. They emphasize the urgent need for Western nations to uphold their legal responsibilities and ensure equitable access to essential resources for all populations.
The current water crisis in Gaza and the West Bank is not only a matter of resource distribution but also a critical issue of human rights and survival. The international community’s response could be pivotal in alleviating the suffering and ensuring fair treatment for the Palestinian people.