A new body of research has revealed a pattern of more than 250 attacks on Palestinian water sources over the past five years, painting a stark picture of escalating pressure on essential civilian infrastructure across the occupied West Bank. The findings describe a sustained campaign that has targeted wells, springs and irrigation systems using bombs, machinery, dogs and, in some cases, poison.

The data, compiled through field reports and verified incidents, points to both Israeli armed forces and settlers as responsible for assaults on Palestinian water sites. Researchers say the scale and frequency make this one of the most extensive modern assaults on civilian water access documented in the region.

Water sources in Palestinian communities are already stretched by decades of restrictions, land seizures and unequal distribution of shared aquifers. Many rural families rely entirely on local springs and wells for drinking, livestock and irrigation. Each destroyed or contaminated site forces people to travel farther, pay more or depend on trucked-in supplies, often at unaffordable prices.

Farmers described waking up to find pipes smashed, reservoirs drained and access roads blocked. Others recounted settlers bringing dogs to drive families away from springs, or armed escorts escorting bulldozers that uprooted water lines. Human rights groups say the attacks are designed to make daily life unmanageable and drive communities from strategic areas.

The impact is sharpest in agricultural zones where water is the backbone of survival. Villagers report losing crops, selling livestock and abandoning farmland after repeated assaults. Some springs have been fenced off entirely, with settlers installing cameras or patrols to prevent Palestinian access.

Israel has not commented on the new dataset, although past accusations of targeting civilian water sources have been denied or described as security-related operations. Palestinian authorities and international monitors say the pattern aligns with broader displacement pressures across the West Bank.

Humanitarian organisations warn that the destruction of water infrastructure is pushing some communities toward crisis conditions. With climate pressures rising and the region facing hotter, drier seasons, the loss of reliable water sources carries long-term consequences for health, agriculture and food security.

The researchers behind the report say the findings highlight a growing urgency, noting that water has become a frontline in the conflict. For many Palestinians, the issue is not only about access to resources but about the future viability of entire villages.