A recent report prepared by the National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Colonization revealed that the seriously escalating violations by illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers are a leading factor in depriving Palestinians of access to water sources.
The report highlights repeated assaults on water infrastructure in the Ein Samia area, east of Kafr Malik in the Ramallah governorate, in the central West Bank.
These attacks have targeted wells and pumping stations that serve as vital lifelines for tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Ein Samia, home to five functioning wells reaching depths of 100 to 500 meters, supplies nearly 12,000 cubic meters of water daily, accounting for 17% of the water distributed by the Jerusalem Water Authority.
This water network directly serves 19 Palestinian communities and indirectly supports 14 others through the Ramallah station, benefiting approximately 110,000 residents.
The report documents how dozens of Bedouin families from the Ka’abna Bedouin community were forcibly displaced from their village that was established over 40 years ago on privately owned, registered land.
The displacement followed a series of coordinated attacks by colonizers who established illegal grazing outposts on surrounding hills, restricted access to pastureland, and escalated threats until families were forced to dismantle their homes and leave.
After the forced displacement, colonizers turned their aggression toward water infrastructure.
The Jerusalem Water Authority announced a complete shutdown of pumping operations in Ein Samia due to escalating attacks.
Technical teams lost control over the entire water system following deliberate sabotage of electrical grids, pumping equipment, communication systems, and surveillance cameras.
This has disrupted the water supply to dozens of villages across northern and eastern Ramallah and al-Bireh. The Authority warned that continued attacks could lead to a humanitarian disaster, depriving over 110,000 people of their basic right to water.
The report also underscores the broader context: Israel’s control over Palestinian water resources through the Mekorot Israeli company, which has systematically reduced allocations over the years.
This control, combined with colonizer violence and infrastructure sabotage, exacerbates water shortages, especially during summer months.
According to estimates, Israel controls over 84% of Palestinian water in the West Bank, demolished more than 500 rainwater collection wells, and is appropriating 52% of water for Israeli citizens inside 1948 territories and 32% for illegal colonies, leaving Palestinians with just 16% of their own water resources.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) documented the displacement of at least 2,895 Palestinians from 69 communities across the West Bank since early 2023 due to the coercive environment created by colonizer violence. Nearly half of those displaced were from Ramallah governorate.
In occupied Jerusalem, the report warns of ongoing colonization efforts, including the proposed “Brown Line” of the light rail project.
This plan aims to forcibly reshape the city’s geography by linking industrial zones in the illegal Atarot colony to Palestinian neighborhoods like Sur Baher, Ras al-Amoud, and the Old City, further entrenching colonial control.
The report also reveals that just before resigning, Israel’s so-called Minister for Jerusalem, Meir Porush, moved to seize properties in the Chain Gate area of the Old City, citing a post-1967 decree that transferred ownership of Palestinian properties to a state-run company.
Weekly violations documented include forced demolitions, property seizures, and colonizer attacks on homes, agricultural facilities, and livestock, particularly in Jerusalem neighborhoods like Beit Hanina, Jabal al-Mukabber, and al-Sawahra.
Hebron
Illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers stormed Khirbet al-Fakhit in Masafer Yatta, conducting provocative patrols under the protection of occupation forces, who abducted an international peace activist documenting the violations.
In the same area, a colonizer herded livestock into Shuab al-Batem, while in al-Hamra near al-Tiwani, occupation soldiers forced Palestinian farmers off their land and shielded colonizers who unleashed their herds into orchards, damaging crops.
In Ethna town, occupation bulldozers razed land owned by Jihad Tmeizi near the town’s main entrance, uprooting grape and lemon trees and destroying fencing. Additional tracts were leveled under the pretext of searching for Mekorot water lines.
In Wadi as-Simsim, south of ath-Thaheriyya town, colonizers assaulted residents, vandalized property, and emptied water tanks used for drinking and livestock.
In ar-Rakeez, colonizers from the illegal “Avigail” outpost attacked resident Mohammad al-Amour, leaving him injured.
Others released hundreds of livestock into cultivated lands in Khirbet Qwawis, causing extensive agricultural damage and threatening the community’s livelihood.
Bethlehem
Occupation forces issued demolition orders for seven homes in al-Khader, targeting properties belonging to the Salah and Mousa families.
In Kisan, colonizers assaulted residents, looted property, and blocked access to farmland.
They also installed caravans in al-Makhrour (Beit Jala) and al-Khammar (Battir), expanding existing outposts.
In al-Jab’a, occupation forces demolished a car wash and repair garage owned by village council head Thiab Masha’la, citing lack of permits.
Ramallah
Colonizers began carving a new settler road through Mikhmas, aiming to connect illegal outposts with larger colonies.
This will likely result in the confiscation of hundreds of dunums and their reclassification as military zones or “nature reserves” to justify annexation.
In Ni’lin, colonizers attacked the outskirts of town, assaulted Ibrahim al-Khawaja in his under-construction home, and set the building ablaze.
In al-Mughayyir, dozens suffered from tear gas inhalation during a colonizer invasion. In Beitin, colonizers torched vehicles, scrawled racist graffiti, and flew a surveillance drone overhead.
In Kafr Malik, agricultural equipment was stolen, while mobile homes were placed near an illegal outpost on Sinjil land. Another group attempted to break into homes in Jaljulia.
Nablus
Under military protection, colonizer bulldozers carried out extensive excavation in an illegal outpost south of Aqraba, targeting the historic site atop Mount Qarqafa. In Beita, a 19-year-old was injured in a colonizer assault.
Salfit
Colonizers attacked Aysar Shamlawi from Haris while he was harvesting cactus fruit in Wadi Qana, stealing his tools and produce.
Jenin
Colonizers cut down dozens of olive trees in Jalbun, near the apartheid wall. The targeted area spans 130 dunums, and occupation forces prevent residents from accessing it.
Qalqilia
Occupation authorities issued orders to seize seven dunums in Jinsafut, east of Qalqilia, to expand a military road serving the illegal colonies of Neve Menachem and Ramat Gilad.
Jordan Valley
Occupation authorities approved drilling a 600-meter-deep groundwater well in al-Hamra for Mekorot, on land belonging to residents of Khirbet al-Hadidiya.
This threatens a 1.5-dunum plot owned by families from Tubas. Seven families in al-Farisiya were ordered to halt construction of residential and agricultural structures.
In Ein al-Hilweh and Ein al-Beida, occupation forces demolished homes and livestock facilities. Colonizers invded al-Maleh Bedouin community and stole a flock of approximately 200 sheep.
