In the West Bank, access to water has become a pressing daily struggle, with reports suggesting that Israeli policies and settler practices systematically restrict Palestinian communities from their vital resources. From damaged pipelines and stolen springs to the diversion of water to nearby settlements, residents are facing chronic shortages that undermine basic human survival and amplify social and economic pressures. Analysts describe these measures as part of an organised approach to weaken Palestinian communities by making essential resources inaccessible.

Officials from the Palestinian Water Authority highlight two overlapping strategies. On one hand, there are physical interventions, including tampering with wells, springs, and pumping stations, and obstructing communities from reaching their traditional water sources. On the other, administrative and regulatory restrictions hinder the construction or improvement of Palestinian water infrastructure, forcing reliance on purchased water from Israeli companies. Deep drilling near Palestinian sources has further reduced water levels, leaving springs dry even during periods of rainfall and escalating costs for families.

Communities across the West Bank, from the Jordan Valley to the Hebron Hills, report that these water shortages have severe consequences: livestock and crops suffer, families are compelled to buy costly tanked water, and public health risks increase due to reliance on stored or unsafe water. Residents and local observers warn that this deliberate deprivation functions as a silent displacement policy, gradually pushing Bedouin, pastoral, and rural communities from their lands while settlement networks expand. Analysts say the persistent limitations on water access, combined with land appropriation and daily harassment, exemplify a systematic strategy to reshape the demographics and geography of Area C, undermining Palestinian life without formal declarations.