Israel's Thirst Policy: Systematic Water Deprivation Against Palestinians

Israel has officially implemented a policy of systematic water deprivation targeting Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. 

In a statement by the Ambassador Abu Shawesh he said, The policy, is part of long-standing measures perceived as reinforcing Jewish supremacy, is severely impacting both Gazans and Palestinians in the West Bank.

According to a report from B'Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, there is a stark contrast in water consumption between Israelis, including settlers, and Palestinians. Israelis consume an average of 247 liters of water per day, while Palestinians in the West Bank average only 82.4 liters per day. For Palestinian communities not connected to the water grid, the daily consumption drops to just 26 liters per person. To cope with chronic water shortages, 92% of Palestinians in the West Bank rely on water tanks for storage.

The Euro-Med Monitor highlights that Israel is not only limiting water availability but also destroying essential water infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. Since October 2023, over 700 wells and water desalination plants have been destroyed, causing a dramatic 97% decrease in per capita water share for Gaza’s residents. This destruction has forced the population of over 2.3 million people to resort to drinking contaminated well water, posing severe health risks.

The international community is urged to leverage its diplomatic, economic, legal, and political influence to pressure Israel to comply with international law and cease its policies of water deprivation. Western countries, in particular, are called upon to enforce legal standards they typically uphold globally.