RAMALLAH, Tuesday, March 22, 2022 – Marking World Water Day, President Mahmoud Abbas warned that silence is no longer acceptable in light of what he described as the near-total, hidden Israeli exploitation of Palestinian water resources.

Referring to this year’s international theme, “Groundwater is invisible, but its impact is visible everywhere,” the President said the global community must translate this message into action by helping Palestinians reclaim their stolen water rights.

President Abbas affirmed that, despite challenges and Israeli obstacles, Palestine remains committed to advancing development plans and supporting projects that build an independent water system — a foundation for life, resilience, and statehood with Jerusalem as its capital.

He questioned: “How long will the world remain silent while the fate and lives of our people are held hostage by the occupier, through its racist practices and control over our resources and legitimate rights?”

The President stressed that World Water Day is an important moment for the international community to focus on protecting this vital resource and to address global threats to freshwater that endanger the existence of millions. He emphasized that discussions on water security must not ignore Palestine’s just demands for water rights.

He added that Israel continues to intensify violations by seizing water resources, obstructing efforts to provide water to Palestinians, and imposing policies that constitute “a water war” on the Palestinian people — policies that, he said, amount to war crimes.

President Abbas highlighted that in Gaza, repeated aggressions and the ongoing blockade have severely damaged water and sanitation infrastructure, deepening the humanitarian crisis. In the West Bank, he said, Israel controls surface and groundwater, expands illegal settlements, digs wells, and builds large water pipelines on Palestinian land, while at the same time demolishing and blocking Palestinian attempts to establish basic water infrastructure.

He noted that Israel forces Palestinians to purchase their own water from the occupying authority, serving political interests while denying Palestinian communities access to natural water sources.

The President concluded by asking: “For how long will the world remain silent while the occupation continues its violations with no respect for international law? If the world remains content with statements of condemnation while our water is looted, the future of our children will be one of thirst — and that is something we cannot accept.”