Key facts
- Israeli forces bulldozed hundreds of olive trees in the occupied West Bank village of Zububa, near Jenin.
- At least 500 olive trees across 50 dunams of land were uprooted.
- Dozens more dunams of agricultural land are at risk of further destruction.
- The olive harvest is a vital source of income for tens of thousands of Palestinian families.
- Residents were previously informed the land would be cleared for a security "buffer zone" along the separation wall.
- Since 2020, Israel has uprooted or damaged at least 120,000 trees in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli forces bulldozed hundreds of olive trees in the occupied West Bank village of Zububa, near Jenin, on Sunday, destroying at least 500 trees across 50 dunams of land. Dozens more dunams are at risk of further destruction in the coming days, according to Zaki Jaradat, head of the Zububa Village Council.
The operation occurred less than three months before the annual olive harvest, a vital source of income for tens of thousands of Palestinian families. Mahmoud Jaradat, one of the affected landowners, expressed devastation, stating his years of hard work had vanished in a moment and he would have to buy olive oil this year instead of selling it.
Residents had previously been informed by the army that the land would be cleared to create a security "buffer zone" along the separation wall. However, they were shocked when the bulldozing extended beyond designated areas. Zaki Jaradat indicated that the total area to be bulldozed could exceed 250 dunams, under the pretext of security.
Zububa village has lost significant land since 1967, with Palestinians now accessing only around 1,500 dunams. The village is also routinely subjected to collective punishment measures by the Israeli military. On Sunday evening, the army distributed leaflets warning residents against approaching the separation wall.
According to the Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission, Israel has uprooted, damaged or poisoned at least 120,000 trees across the occupied West Bank since 2020, with attacks on olive trees intensifying in recent years.