'They want to make us leave': Israel destroys West Bank wells serving Palestinian herders

What Happened

Israeli forces destroyed three main water wells in the Palestinian herding community of Ras al-Ahmar in the northern Jordan Valley, occupied West Bank. The wells supplied water to over 47 families (more than 600 people), irrigated approximately 7,500 dunams of farmland, and sustained thousands of sheep and goats. Residents report that since the destruction, they must haul water from distant towns at three times the normal cost, while Israeli checkpoints and movement restrictions frequently delay or block water tankers. The destruction follows a months-long campaign of settler attacks that repeatedly cut pipelines to the community. Residents and the village council head say the wells were the community's lifeline and that without reliable water access, their ability to remain on the land is in question.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The destruction of water infrastructure in Ras al-Ahmar is part of a broader pattern in the Jordan Valley where Israeli control over water resources, coupled with military restrictions and settler violence, pressures Palestinian herding and farming communities to leave their land. This tactic undermines Palestinian livelihoods and facilitates the expansion of Israeli settlements and military zones. It exemplifies the use of water as a weapon in the ongoing occupation, with at least 5,910 Palestinians internally displaced by settler violence between January 2023 and April 2026, according to UN data.

Watch For

Monitor whether the wells are repaired or humanitarian water access is restored; watch for further settler attacks or military demolitions targeting water sources in the Jordan Valley. Pay attention to international reactions, UN statements on displacement and water rights, and potential legal actions by human rights organizations documenting the destruction.