WEST BANK, (PIC)
Israeli forces and settlers escalated attacks Thursday against Palestinian agricultural land in the northern Jordan Valley, southern al-Khalil, and northwest of Nablus through the demolition of agricultural greenhouses, destruction of crops, harassment of farmers and shepherds, and the establishment of a new settler outpost.
In the northern Jordan Valley, Israeli bulldozers demolished several agricultural plastic greenhouses near the village of Bardala belonging to local farmers, months after demolition notices had been issued.
Local sources said the demolitions targeted greenhouses and water networks covering two dunums owned by farmer Mahmoud Tawfiq Sawafteh, four dunums and irrigation systems belonging to farmer Saqr Nayef Sawafteh, and another three dunums with irrigation networks owned by Sahab Nayef Sawafteh.
About three months ago, Israeli authorities issued notices ordering the demolition and removal of nearly 50 dunums of agricultural greenhouses around Bardala as part of a policy aimed at pressuring farmers in the Jordan Valley.
In southern al-Khalil, armed settlers damaged trees and crops in Masafer Yatta, while others continued chasing shepherds and farmers and preventing them from accessing their land.
Activist Osama Makhamreh said a group of settlers released their livestock among residents’ trees in the Wadi al-Rakhim area south of Yatta, causing damage to and uprooting olive saplings.
He added that settlers, under the protection of Israeli forces, chased farmers and shepherds in the areas of Umm al-Qubur, Wadi al-Jawaya, and Rajum A‘li in Masafer Yatta, forcing them off their land before allowing livestock into agricultural fields, causing major crop destruction.
Areas in Masafer Yatta have witnessed escalating settler attacks against shepherds and farmers amid ongoing attempts to deny residents access to their land and grazing areas, threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of families who depend on farming and livestock.
Meanwhile, northwest of Nablus, settlers erected a new tent outpost on land in the al-Masoudiya area belonging to the municipality of Burqa.
Diab Haji, head of the al-Masoudiya Land Defense Committee, said groups of settlers spread heavily across the area while farmers were working their land before erecting a settler tent and releasing sheep among the crops.
He warned that settler attacks had caused significant agricultural damage and highlighted the danger posed to the area, which contains a water well supplying several nearby villages and the city of Nablus.
