Ramallah: Israeli colonists have cut off the primary water supply to the village of Beit Ur al-Fauqa, west of Ramallah, as confirmed by local sources. The colonists, originating from the Beit Horon settlement, which is situated on privately owned Palestinian territory, shut down the main water valve serving the village.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the village council stated that this act is perceived as collective punishment and a retaliatory measure following recent confrontations where villagers thwarted colonists' attempts to seize lands for the construction of a new road. The council has been actively communicating with relevant authorities to resolve the water crisis and facilitate the entry of a technical crew to the water supply area located within the settlement. However, the crew was delayed until late Wednesday night and was not permitted to access the area for inspection or repairs.
The council emphasized the broader impact of the water cutoff, highlighting that neighboring communities, which share the same water allocation, are also affected. This situation exacerbates existing challenges posed by stringent Israeli restrictions on Palestinian water access in the West Bank. They urged local and international human rights and humanitarian organizations to intervene immediately to halt this violation and restore water access to the village. The council underscored that the water cutoff represents collective punishment for a peaceful protest against land expropriation, for which villagers have documented proof of ownership.
Additionally, the council warned about the rapid expansion of colonial activities in the area, with continuous construction efforts protected by occupation forces to complete the new road and alter the landscape. The village's land encompasses approximately 4,500 dunams, and the new road, along with other strategic deployments, threatens to isolate five-sixths of this land, violating international humanitarian law.
The council also noted deliberate restrictions imposed by occupation forces on the movement of residents through a military checkpoint separating Beitunia from eight other towns to the west, including Beit Ur al-Fauqa, further complicating the daily lives of the villagers.
