PALESTINE'S ABBAS ACCUSES ISRAEL OF USING WATER AS TOOL OF WAR AND DISPLACEMENT

RAMALLAH, March 23 (Bernama-WAFA) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has accused Israel of using water as a weapon of war and displacement, saying the policy forms part of a systematic effort to control and uproot the Palestinian people.

In a statement marking World Water Day, Abbas said the occasion comes as Palestinians continue to endure what he described as acts of genocide by Israel for more than a year and a half, resulting in the deaths of thousands, including children, women and the elderly.

According to the Palestine News Agency (WAFA), Abbas said Israel’s violations go beyond direct attacks, highlighting that the occupation forces have deliberately halted essential services, particularly the supply of clean water, and blocked humanitarian assistance.

“The Israeli occupation’s use of water as a means of torture, displacement and pressure is not new.

“It is a deliberate, long-standing policy aimed at restricting Palestinian development, expanding illegal settlements, and forcing people off their land,” he said.

Abbas said Israel maintains full control over surface and groundwater sources, using this control to manipulate the daily lives of Palestinians and further its objectives.

He also called on the international community to take urgent action, especially to protect children in Gaza, many of whom are forced to queue for hours to access a single litre of water, or resort to drinking contaminated supplies.

“Children are dying from dehydration and a lack of access to food and medicine. These are children who, like others around the world, deserve to live with dignity and safety,” he added.

-- BERNAMA-WAFA