Since the 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel has demolished thousands of Palestinian homes in violation of both human rights law and international humanitarian law. Demolitions have been carried out for punitive reasons, to clear land surrounding the illegal settlements, bypass roads and the Wall, in the course of military incursions and for administrative reasons. In occupied East Jerusalem there are well founded concerns that demolitions of Palestinian homes, along with the continued expansion of illegal Jewish settlements, are part of a policy to change the demographics of the city.

The right to water and sanitation is a critical issue in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Throughout the occupation, problems contributing to a water crisis in the oPt have included Israel’s systematic destruction of wells and other water and sewage infrastructure, Israel’s denial of infrastructure construction and maintenance, unequal extraction and discriminatory distribution of water resources to the detriment of the Palestinians, over pumping of ground water resources and Israel’s dumping of waste materials in the oPt which has contaminated natural resources. Moreover, Israelis both inside Israel and in the oPt, consume a much greater quantity of water than Palestinians and face fewer restrictions on water drawn from shared resources.The occupation has therefore hindered the ability of the Palestinian authorities to provide adequate water and sanitation services to the population.

In the West Bank a large number of rural communities are unserved by water and sewage networks and the occupation authorities have prevented the construction of new water and sewage infrastructure as well as the rehabilitation of existing infrastruture. Water provision in tankers is an expense many families are struggling to afford. The construction of the Wall and the prevalence of checkpoints throughout the West Bank have further hindered water access. In Gaza,  the blockade imposed by Israel and repeated military incursions have caused a severe humanitarian crisis and the water and sanitation sector is on the brink of collapse. Israel's prevention of entry of materials necessary for water and sanitation infrastructure construction and maintenance and limited supplies of fuel and electricity have led to the periodic cessation of water and sanitation services and facilities. This has caused a severe lack of water for residents in many parts of the Gaza Strip and has led to sewage flooding residential areas on a number of occassions putting the health of local residents at risk.