Palestinians left without water in E. al-Quds since March

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have not had access to clean water in the occupied East al-Quds (Jerusalem) since March, when Israel cut water supplies to them, an Israeli NGO says.

B’Tselem said the Tel Aviv regime stopped the regular supply of running water to a number of Palestinian neighborhoods three months ago.

“An estimated 60,000 to 80,000 Palestinians – mostly permanent residents of Israel – have been left without a regular water supply,” B’Tselem added.

The group says the affected neighborhoods – Shu’fat Refugee Camp, Ras Khamis, Ras Sh’hadeh and Dahiyat As-Salam – are all isolated by an Israeli separation barrier in the occupied West Bank.

According to B’Tselem, some households in these camps “have been completely cut off from the water supply” while others “receive water intermittently.”

“As for the rest, the water pressure in the pipes is so low that the water does not reach the faucets,” it said.

Officials say the water infrastructure in those areas can support only 15,000 people while up to 80,000 residents are left without water.

Human rights organizations have handed a petition to the Israeli High Court to protest Tel Aviv’s negligence in the matter.