Water Scarcity in the West Bank.

In the scorching heat of a July day, Mansour Arara, a young Palestinian man, sits in the shade of a tree with his friends near the Al-Auja freshwater spring. His nephew and a friend splash in the cool water, oblivious to the growing tension that hangs heavy in the air. But this isn't just a day of fun in the sun; it's a desperate attempt to access a vital resource that is becoming increasingly scarce. The spring, a lifeline for nearby Palestinian towns, farms, and sheep herders, is under threat, and the future of this community is uncertain.

Arara explains that this is the fourth spring they've tried to reach today, the other three blocked by Israeli settlers with the help of the Israeli military. This isn't a new phenomenon, but it has escalated since the war in Gaza began last October. Settlers, emboldened by a hardline Israeli government, are seizing control of freshwater springs, a critical resource for Palestinian communities.

Samhan Shreiteh, a 70-year-old Palestinian man, recounts his harrowing experience at a spring he used to visit every morning. On the day after the war started, he was confronted by armed settlers who threatened him with violence. Since then, he's been forced to buy water from a delivery service at five times the previous price, and his family is rationing their water usage.

The water crisis extends beyond individual stories. Palestinians in the West Bank face a stark water disparity compared to Israelis, including those living in settlements. A study by B’Tselem found that Israelis use three times more water per person than Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority, hampered by limited control over water resources, struggles to provide adequate water for its people.

The situation is dire, with water shortages becoming increasingly common and the future of Palestinian access to this essential resource hanging in the balance. As Palestinians grapple with the consequences of a war they did not start, they face a difficult choice: endure the hardships of water scarcity or risk further confrontation with Israeli settlers and the military.