Key facts
- Israeli bulldozers destroyed scores of olive trees in Palestinian villages near Jenin.
- The destruction occurred in the villages of Ajjah and Zububa.
- Over 2,950 olive trees have been uprooted across more than 300 dunams in the Jenin area this year.
- The uprooting of trees comes weeks before the Palestinian olive harvest season.
- Farmers report increasing restrictions and attacks, including settler violence, during harvest periods.
Israeli bulldozers destroyed scores of olive trees in Palestinian villages near Jenin on Wednesday, continuing a campaign of uprooting across the occupied West Bank. The targeted farmland in Ajjah and Zububa, near the separation barrier, was set to be harvested in the coming weeks.
Zaki Jaradat, head of Zububa Village Council, stated that Israeli forces have uprooted more than 2,950 olive trees across over 300 dunams of land this year. Fuad Yahya Maqalda, a farmer whose family has cultivated the land for generations, watched as bulldozers removed 111 trees from one plot and 215 from another.
Tareq Ighbariya, spokesperson for the Palestinian Commission Against the Wall and Settlements in Jenin, noted that destruction often exceeds the scope of military orders, with bulldozers sometimes clearing land without prior notification. Similar operations have impacted around 300 dunams of farmland in the Jenin governorate recently.
The olive harvest is a crucial economic and cultural event for Palestinians in the West Bank, providing income for thousands of families. Farmers report increased restrictions and attacks, including settler violence and difficulties accessing land, particularly near settlements and military zones, making the harvest period one of heightened uncertainty.