Israel's Assault on Palestinian Water Sources: A Sustained Attack on Civilians
A disturbing trend has emerged in the Middle East, where Israel has launched a systematic assault on Palestinian water sources over 250 times in the past five years. The attacks, which include bombings, dogs, poison, and heavy machinery, have left a trail of destruction and chaos in their wake.
According to data collected by the Pacific Institute, a California-based think tank, Israeli forces and settlers have targeted Palestinian drinking water, irrigation, and sanitation sites on at least 90 occasions between January 2024 and mid-2025. These attacks have resulted in significant damage to infrastructure, displacement of civilians, and loss of life.
One particularly egregious incident took place in February 2024, when Israeli snipers killed eight Palestinians collecting water near a hospital in Gaza. In April, Israeli airstrikes on two schools in Gaza City killed and injured 100 people, destroying essential water and sanitation facilities.
The attacks have had devastating consequences for the Palestinian population, who already face significant challenges accessing clean water and sanitation. An estimated 90% of water and sanitation facilities in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged by direct attacks, leaving Palestinians without access to basic necessities.
Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the UN special rapporteur on human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, has described these practices as "violations of international law" that constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. He has also accused Israel of using water as a tool for displacement and segregation, part of a strategy of apartheid and progressive colonization.
The attack on Palestinian water sources is just one example of the growing global trend of water-related violence. In 2024, there were a record 420 water-related conflicts globally – a 20% rise on 2023 and a 78% increase over 2022. Other countries, including South Africa, Pakistan, and Madagascar, have also seen an escalation in water shortages and violence.
The UN recognizes access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right, yet millions of people still lack access to clean water worldwide. Cutting off or denying people access to safe water constitutes a war crime under international law.
The Pacific Institute's tracker, which documents incidents of water-related violence dating back over 4,500 years, has identified more than 2,750 entries from news reports and eyewitness accounts. The data shows a significant increase in violent incidents involving freshwater resources in recent years, highlighting the urgent need for international attention and action to protect civilian water systems.
As the global community grapples with the challenges of climate change, poverty, and inequality, it is essential that we prioritize access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right. The attack on Palestinian water sources serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of inaction and the need for collective action to protect civilians and ensure that everyone has access to this basic necessity.
A disturbing trend has emerged in the Middle East, where Israel has launched a systematic assault on Palestinian water sources over 250 times in the past five years. The attacks, which include bombings, dogs, poison, and heavy machinery, have left a trail of destruction and chaos in their wake.
According to data collected by the Pacific Institute, a California-based think tank, Israeli forces and settlers have targeted Palestinian drinking water, irrigation, and sanitation sites on at least 90 occasions between January 2024 and mid-2025. These attacks have resulted in significant damage to infrastructure, displacement of civilians, and loss of life.
One particularly egregious incident took place in February 2024, when Israeli snipers killed eight Palestinians collecting water near a hospital in Gaza. In April, Israeli airstrikes on two schools in Gaza City killed and injured 100 people, destroying essential water and sanitation facilities.
The attacks have had devastating consequences for the Palestinian population, who already face significant challenges accessing clean water and sanitation. An estimated 90% of water and sanitation facilities in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged by direct attacks, leaving Palestinians without access to basic necessities.
Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the UN special rapporteur on human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, has described these practices as "violations of international law" that constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. He has also accused Israel of using water as a tool for displacement and segregation, part of a strategy of apartheid and progressive colonization.
The attack on Palestinian water sources is just one example of the growing global trend of water-related violence. In 2024, there were a record 420 water-related conflicts globally – a 20% rise on 2023 and a 78% increase over 2022. Other countries, including South Africa, Pakistan, and Madagascar, have also seen an escalation in water shortages and violence.
The UN recognizes access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right, yet millions of people still lack access to clean water worldwide. Cutting off or denying people access to safe water constitutes a war crime under international law.
The Pacific Institute's tracker, which documents incidents of water-related violence dating back over 4,500 years, has identified more than 2,750 entries from news reports and eyewitness accounts. The data shows a significant increase in violent incidents involving freshwater resources in recent years, highlighting the urgent need for international attention and action to protect civilian water systems.
As the global community grapples with the challenges of climate change, poverty, and inequality, it is essential that we prioritize access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right. The attack on Palestinian water sources serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of inaction and the need for collective action to protect civilians and ensure that everyone has access to this basic necessity.
israel's actions towards palestine are just unacceptable, i mean we already know they're a powerful nation but come on attacking water sources? 
it's like they're trying to hold the ppl hostage. and the stats are crazy 90% of water facilities in gaza have been destroyed or damaged! that's just heartbreakin' 
i think pedro arrojo-agudo sums it up perfectly, these practices are war crimes for sure 
. I mean, can't we at least use some basic font sizes and styles to make the text more readable? Or maybe add some images or graphics to break up the text and make it less overwhelming? 
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this is getting outta hand, 250 times they've attacked palstinian water sources? seems like they just wanna make life impossible for them... and now we're hearing about more countries having issues with water shortages? what's goin on here? 
. Clean water should be a fundamental human right, not a privilege that's taken away from us at gunpoint 
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. We need to support organizations and leaders who are fighting for peace, justice, and access to clean water 
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The fact that Palestinians can't even get access to clean water is probably because they're not trying hard enough, imo 
It's not like Israel has a right to exist in the first place... 
anyway back to water issues... did you know that scientists discovered a new species of jellyfish in japan? like, what is even more fascinating than water-related violence? 
the fact that israel is attacking palestinian water sources like it's going out of style is just mind-blowing 
this isn't just about palestine either - we're seeing water shortages and violence everywhere in the world right now 
i mean i get it we all wanna discuss israel and palestine but can't we just chill for one sec? 
anyway back to israel... i think its pretty clear that israel's got some serious issues with water rights and its only getting worse 
Pedro Arrojo-Agudo is like totally right tho 
the UN should be doing more to stop this stuff ASAP 
Who does that? It's like they're trying to make life even harder for the Palestinians. And 90% of water and sanitation facilities in Gaza being destroyed or damaged? That's insane! 
) and it said that Israel is using these attacks as a way to displace people. Like, they're trying to push them out of their own homes and make them live somewhere else. It's like something out of a bad sci-fi movie.
. We need to hold our leaders accountable for protecting civilians and ensuring everyone has access to safe drinking water 
. The numbers are staggering - 90% of water and sanitation facilities in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged, leaving people without access to basic necessities 
. We can't just sit back and watch as people suffer due to our inaction 
but instead they're just talkin about it an' doin nothin 
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what about all the other countries having water shortages and violence too? it sounds like everyone's just trying to be the victim here 
. Like, what's next? They gonna say it's not their fault Palestinians can't afford clean water because they're poor 
? That's just not true, mate. The data is clear – 250+ attacks on Palestinian water sources in the past 5 years is a major red flag 
, but this is just ridiculous. The Pacific Institute's tracker shows over 2,700 entries of water-related violence – that's just sickening