Settler attack on the Ein Samyah spring and community

The Ein Samia spring in the West Bank, a vital water source for around 100,000 Palestinians across 33 villages, is under systematic attack by Israeli settlers. Settlers have vandalized infrastructure, smashed pumps and pipelines, stolen equipment, and restricted water access to Palestinians, transforming parts of the area into recreational spots for themselves. These assaults have forced the Jerusalem Water Authority to halt pumping operations to ensure water safety, exacerbating water scarcity for Palestinian communities.

Ein Samia is historically and culturally significant, with wells producing 12,000 cubic meters daily. Palestinians face severe inequalities in water access compared to settlers, whose consumption is six to eight times higher. Settler attacks, combined with Israeli-imposed road closures and military zones, have prevented timely repairs, deepening the water crisis.

Residents report rationing water for drinking and ablution, purchasing costly water tanks, and suffering psychological, physical, and economic hardships. Local authorities have subsidized water tanks to help vulnerable families, but attacks persist.

Experts describe this as a deliberate, state-supported campaign to control Palestinian land and water, framing it as a tool of displacement. Authorities and residents call for international protection, equitable distribution, and legislation to safeguard water security.

Ein Samia is not only a critical water source but also a symbol of Palestinian resilience, cultural heritage, and the struggle against systematic settler aggression and unequal resource control.

Israeli settlers swim in the Ein Samia spring near the village of Kafr Malik in the occupied West Bank (AFP).