Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank drive global increase in water-related violence

Israeli attacks on Palestinian water infrastructure in 2023 made up a quarter of global water-related violence, as conflicts over dwindling resources surged worldwide.

Nina Lakhani reports for The Guardian.

In short:

Water-related violence globally increased by 50% in 2023, with nearly 350 documented conflicts.
Israel's destruction of Palestinian water supplies was a significant contributor, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank.
Latin America, the Caribbean and India also saw sharp rises in water conflicts due to drought and disputes over access.

Key quote:

“There was a massive uptick in violence over water in 2023, widely around the world, but especially in the Middle East.”

— Peter Gleick, co-founder of the Pacific Institute.

Why this matters:

As climate change exacerbates water scarcity, conflicts over access to water are becoming more frequent and severe, threatening the stability of already volatile regions. The ongoing violence endangers millions who rely on these critical resources for survival.

www.theguardian.com

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