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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Water
Sec. Water and Human Systems
Volume 6 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/frwa.2024.1470201
This article is part of the Research Topic Sociohydrology in Drylands View all 5 articles

Water at the Intersection of Human Rights and Conflict: A Case Study of Palestine

Provisionally accepted
Abdullah Muratoglu Abdullah Muratoglu 1,2*Fatma Wassar Fatma Wassar 3,4
  • 1 Batman University, Batman, Türkiye
  • 2 Batman University, Civil Engineering Department, Batman, Batman, Türkiye
  • 3 Higher Institute of Water Sciences and Techniques, University of Gabès, Gabès, Tunisia
  • 4 Higher Institute of Water Sciences and techniques of Gabes, University of Gabes, Gabes, Tunisia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The global water crisis presents a multifaceted challenge intersecting with human rights and conflict, particularly evident in regions like Palestine. This study delves into the intricate dynamics of water scarcity in Palestine, with a specific focus on the Gaza Strip. The scarcity of water resources has a profound impact on agriculture and the economy, leading to increased food insecurity as a result of insufficient water availability for irrigation. Furthermore, the unequal distribution of water resources between Israel and Palestine perpetuates the crisis, with Israeli settlements consuming a disproportionate share compared to Palestinians. This research also highlights the widespread issue of water discrimination, where Israeli policies systematically restrict Palestinian access to water resources, thereby exacerbating existing disparities. In the Gaza Strip, the challenges are particularly severe, with a staggering 89% of the population lacking access to safely managed drinking water services. Addressing the water crisis in Palestine necessitates concerted efforts to enhance water security, safeguard water quality, and uphold the fundamental rights of the population. Collaborative initiatives are essential to alleviate the plight of communities in Gaza and across Palestine, ensuring equitable access to this vital resource and fostering sustainable development.

    Keywords: water scarcity, Human Rights, Gaza, Palestine, Hydropolitics, Water Quality, Water discrimination, sociohydrology

    Received: 16 Sep 2024; Accepted: 09 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Muratoglu and Wassar. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Abdullah Muratoglu, Batman University, Batman, Türkiye

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