Israel's relentless assault on Palestinian water sources has left the region reeling, with a staggering 250+ attacks in just five years. The Pacific Institute's research reveals a pattern of systematic violence against civilians and infrastructure at drinking water, irrigation, and sanitation sites in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
From January 2024 to mid-2025, Israeli forces employed a range of tactics, including bombs, dogs, poison, and heavy machinery, on at least 90 occasions. Notably, in February 2024, snipers killed eight Palestinians collecting water near Naser hospital in Gaza, while April's airstrikes on two schools in Gaza City resulted in the deaths and injuries of over 100 people.
These incidents have had a devastating impact on the local population. An estimated 90% of water and sanitation facilities in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged by direct attacks, making it impossible for Palestinians to access basic necessities like clean drinking water and sanitation. This has led to a public health catastrophe, according to Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the UN special rapporteur on human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Experts argue that Israel's actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, amounting to a genocidal strategy. The use of water as a tool for displacement and segregation is part of an apartheid and progressive colonization strategy, aimed at controlling the Palestinian population in their own territories.
Violence against water sources has been on the rise globally, with 420 recorded conflicts worldwide in 2024 – a 20% increase from the previous year. Other regions experiencing similar tensions include South Africa, where water shortages have led to fatal shootouts between communities; Pakistan, where protests over canals construction left scores injured; and Latin America, where environmental activists defending freshwater resources face increasing attacks.
The UN recognizes access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right, but the statistics are stark. Over 2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, constituting about 25% of the world's population. The Pacific Institute's tracker, the most comprehensive open-source database on water-related violence, has documented over 4,500 years of incidents, with more than 2,750 identified from news reports and eyewitness accounts.
The global community must take note: cutting off or denying access to safe water is a war crime that constitutes international humanitarian law. As Peter Gleick, senior fellow at the Pacific Institute, notes, "Ensuring access to safe, affordable water for all and safeguarding civilian water systems in accordance with international law are critical to preventing further expansion of violence."
From January 2024 to mid-2025, Israeli forces employed a range of tactics, including bombs, dogs, poison, and heavy machinery, on at least 90 occasions. Notably, in February 2024, snipers killed eight Palestinians collecting water near Naser hospital in Gaza, while April's airstrikes on two schools in Gaza City resulted in the deaths and injuries of over 100 people.
These incidents have had a devastating impact on the local population. An estimated 90% of water and sanitation facilities in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged by direct attacks, making it impossible for Palestinians to access basic necessities like clean drinking water and sanitation. This has led to a public health catastrophe, according to Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the UN special rapporteur on human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Experts argue that Israel's actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, amounting to a genocidal strategy. The use of water as a tool for displacement and segregation is part of an apartheid and progressive colonization strategy, aimed at controlling the Palestinian population in their own territories.
Violence against water sources has been on the rise globally, with 420 recorded conflicts worldwide in 2024 – a 20% increase from the previous year. Other regions experiencing similar tensions include South Africa, where water shortages have led to fatal shootouts between communities; Pakistan, where protests over canals construction left scores injured; and Latin America, where environmental activists defending freshwater resources face increasing attacks.
The UN recognizes access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right, but the statistics are stark. Over 2 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, constituting about 25% of the world's population. The Pacific Institute's tracker, the most comprehensive open-source database on water-related violence, has documented over 4,500 years of incidents, with more than 2,750 identified from news reports and eyewitness accounts.
The global community must take note: cutting off or denying access to safe water is a war crime that constitutes international humanitarian law. As Peter Gleick, senior fellow at the Pacific Institute, notes, "Ensuring access to safe, affordable water for all and safeguarding civilian water systems in accordance with international law are critical to preventing further expansion of violence."
this is just too much... like, have you seen all these pics of kids crying because they cant even get a drink of water without getting shot at? 
its not right. i mean, we know israel has been doing some shady stuff in the middle east but come on, using water as a tool for displacement and segregation? thats straight outta holocaust playbook 
its not just palestinians, its all over the world! south africa, pakistan, latin america... we need to wake up and realize our governments are more concerned with profiting off our resources than actually providing for us.
im all for protests and activism but we need to get the world leaders in the Hague next 
"The battle for water is not just a war over resources, it's also a war over the soul of humanity" 
and its not just gaza other places like south africa and pakistan are experiencing similar issues with water shortages leading to violence and deaths what's going on here?? we need to take action and make sure everyone has access to clean drinking water it's a human right 
. The Gaza Strip alone has lost 90% of its water and sanitation facilities 
. It's like Israel is trying to starve them out. And the UN says access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right? How can they just deny that to an entire population? 
2 billion people lack access, but we're already at over 25% of the world's population without clean drinking water 
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the fact that israel has been goin at palestinian water sources for 5 years now is straight up horrific. like 250+ attacks and u can just imagine how many innocent ppl have lost their lives and homes. i mean, access to clean drinking water is a basic human right lol what's next? 
. Its not just the physical harm that gets you, its the emotional toll too, knowing that the very thing youre supposed to be able to rely on is being torn away from you. And its not just gaza strip either, ive been following the news from south africa and pakistan too, and its getting more and more disturbing by the day 
. We need to take action now, cut off our support for israel and demand that they stop these water attacks ASAP 
. Its time we make safe drinking water a fundamental human right that cant be taken away from anyone 
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. And have you seen those stats on water-related violence worldwide? 420 conflicts in 2024 alone? That's crazy!
. I think we need to take a step back and realize that access to clean drinking water is a basic human right, not something that should be taken away from people.
. But seriously, the Pacific Institute's research is eye-opening - a pattern of systematic violence against civilians and infrastructure. It's not just about access to clean water, it's about control and segregation 
250+ attacks on Palestinian water sources? That's like someone trying to steal my favorite pizza from me every 5 seconds. No wonder the region is reeling! On a more serious note, 90% of Gaza Strip's water and sanitation facilities destroyed? That's a public health disaster waiting to happen. I mean, who needs clean drinking water when you can have a good ol' fashioned water balloon fight, right? 
And these numbers, 90% of water facilities destroyed in Gaza Strip, that's insane! 
It's not just about water, it's about their way of life, you know? They're tryin' to break 'em, make 'em beg for scraps. 
I'm tellin' ya, this is all part of a bigger game, a global game to control our resources and keep us in line... 