Israeli actions destroy 8,000 olive trees, cause $7M in West Bank losses

A recent wave of attacks targeting Palestinian farmland in the occupied West Bank has caused an estimated $7 million in losses and destroyed over 8,000 olive trees in just one week, according to the Palestinian Agriculture Ministry. In a weekly report issued Thursday, the ministry described a "dangerous and accelerating escalation" by the Israeli army and illegal settlers directly aimed at the agricultural sector.

Systematic Destruction of Crops and Infrastructure

The report stated that the attacks during the third week of December are part of a systematic policy to seize land and displace its indigenous inhabitants. The destruction was concentrated in the northern and central West Bank, with 5,000 olive trees uprooted in Silat al-Harithiya near Jenin and another 3,000 in Turmus Ayya near Ramallah. Additional incidents included the bulldozing of hundreds of other fruit trees in East Jerusalem, Tulkarem, Qalqilya, Salfit, and Bethlehem, including ancient olive trees.

Targeting the Basis of Livelihoods

Beyond trees, the report documented extensive damage to agricultural infrastructure vital for rural communities. This included the demolition of 13 water wells and agricultural rooms, damage to irrigation networks, theft of water pumps, destruction of 82 beehives, and the poisoning of sheep herds. Palestinian officials and farmers assert that such violence often intensifies during harvest and planting seasons, a tactic viewed as economic pressure to force farmers off their land.

Broader Context of Violence and International Law

This agricultural devastation occurs within a broader context of heightened violence. According to Palestinian figures, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,103 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 2023, injuring nearly 11,000 and detaining around 21,000. An official commission recorded 621 settler attacks in November alone. These actions contravene the landmark opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in July, which declared Israel's occupation illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements. Türkiye strongly condemns these attacks, viewing them as a violation of international law and Palestinian rights, and consistently calls for their cessation and for the protection of civilians and their property.