Water Shortages Deepen Hardship for Residents of West Bank Town as Israeli Restrictions Persist

HEBRON, Occupied West Bank /PNN / 
Like many communities across the occupied West Bank, residents of the town of Idhna, west of Hebron, are struggling with a worsening water crisis that has become part of their daily lives amid continued Israeli control over Palestinian water resources, limited water supplies, and infrastructure constraints that local officials say prevent the network from meeting the needs of thousands of residents.
As summer temperatures rise and demand for water increases, families face recurring shortages that force many to rely on expensive water tankers, adding to the financial burden on households already grappling with deteriorating economic conditions.
Residents told the Palestine News Network (PNN) that the crisis extends beyond insufficient water supplies. They said Israeli restrictions have also hindered the expansion of water and electricity networks by limiting infrastructure development in areas surrounding the town. As demand continues to grow, the amount of water reaching residents remains well below what is needed, leaving many families without reliable access to one of life's most basic necessities.
The ongoing shortages have prompted repeated calls from residents and municipal officials for urgent, long-term solutions that would ensure adequate and equitable water distribution throughout the town, home to tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Despite recent announcements that Hebron governorate's water allocation would be increased, Idhna Municipality says the additional supplies have yet to reach the town.
As the shortages persist, water has become less a basic public service than a daily struggle, with residents waiting weeks or months for municipal supplies or paying high prices for privately delivered water. Limited supplies, coupled with restrictions on infrastructure development, continue to affect nearly every aspect of daily life, from household needs to the operation of public institutions and essential services.
Intisar Al-Jiyawi, a resident of Idhna, said the water crisis is the greatest challenge facing local families. She said Israeli restrictions prevent the extension of water and electricity networks into parts of the town and that attempts to expand infrastructure are frequently blocked or halted.
"Water reaches our area only once every six or seven months," she said, adding that households receive no more than four or five cubic meters each time—far below their needs. As a result, residents must purchase water from private tankers at a cost of about 250 shekels ($74) per delivery, an expense many families cannot afford.
Al-Jiyawi said her family's limited income barely covers university tuition and household expenses, leaving little money for water and electricity.
"We can no longer meet our most basic needs for water and food," she said.
She added that the hardship extends to most residents of Idhna, particularly those living in neighborhoods farther from the town center. She expressed hope that recently announced plans to increase Hebron governorate's water allocation by about 50,000 cubic meters per day would help ease the chronic shortages.
Residents say the problem is not only the cost of water but also what they describe as unequal distribution and long delays in supplying some neighborhoods. They are calling for improved management to ensure fair access for all residents.
Mahmoud Salem Al-Jiyawi said the crisis has continued for days without any noticeable improvement. He also criticized what he described as the lack of response from the authorities responsible for water distribution.
He called for equal distribution throughout the town, saying available supplies should reach all neighborhoods rather than leaving some areas without water for extended periods.
"The lack of water has deprived people of even the most basic daily needs, including drinking, cleaning and washing," he said. "It feels as though we are living under siege."
Idhna Mayor Rizq Tamayzeh said the additional 50,000 cubic meters of water announced for Hebron governorate have not yet entered the distribution network. According to information provided to the municipality, pumping through the main water lines is expected to begin next month.
Tamayzeh said the town has endured years of difficult conditions, with Israeli restrictions affecting multiple aspects of life, including the development of water infrastructure.
He said Idhna faces a severe water deficit. Under normal conditions, the town should receive about 110,000 cubic meters during each four-day distribution cycle, but until recently it had been receiving no more than 17,000 cubic meters, far below the community's needs.
The shortage affects more than 37,000 residents, he said, urging authorities to increase the town's water allocation and end what he described as a long-standing crisis.
Tamayzeh said additional water supplies are urgently needed not only for households but also for essential public institutions, including the town's hospital, civil defense services and other facilities that depend on uninterrupted water access.
He blamed the worsening crisis on Israeli restrictions affecting Palestinian water resources and infrastructure, saying they continue to deepen residents' suffering and disrupt daily life.
While officials continue to promise increased water allocations for Hebron governorate, residents say they hope those commitments will translate into tangible improvements that end years of hardship and ensure regular, equitable access to water—a fundamental human right that should not depend on crisis or prolonged waiting.
This report was produced as part of the "Supporting Media in Times of Crisis" project implemented by the Palestine News Network (PNN) in cooperation with Palestine Media hup, Funded by Free Press Unlimited (FPU). ...