Israeli army bulldozers have demolished rows of olive trees in a village near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, striking Palestinian farmers at a critical moment before their annual harvest, residents reported.
Abd Alfattah Tamimi, a local farmer and landowner, stated that the military destroyed olive trees planted on both his family’s property and that of his neighbors. According to Wafa, the Palestinian news agency, the demolition began on Monday and persisted into Tuesday in the village of Deir Nidham.
“They don’t care about anyone, but God is up there, and we are steadfast here with our souls,” Tamimi said. “They are uprooting, and we will plant again with the help of God.”
Another farmer, Nather Tamimi, told Reuters that the timing of the destruction appeared calculated to inflict maximum economic harm ahead of the harvest season, which traditionally commences in October. His family typically produces approximately 120 drums of olive oil annually from the affected land. He noted that soldiers uprooted various types of trees, including those growing between residential homes.
The Israeli military confirmed it was reviewing a request for comment but had not issued a statement by Wednesday evening. In previous incidents, Israeli forces have cited security concerns, such as preventing ambushes on troops, as the rationale for clearing vegetation.
Palestinian human rights organizations argue that these actions primarily serve to deprive farmers of income from olive and olive oil sales, while also severing a cultural bond with the land that olives represent. The Palestinian Authority’s Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission reported that Israeli attacks on agricultural land in August alone impacted 21,508 trees, 19,375 of which were olive trees. The commission estimated this year’s total olive production at 21,000 tonnes, exceeding local demand of roughly 15,000 tonnes.
The scale of this is staggering—over 21,000 trees in one month alone? Something has to change soon.
Security concerns are often cited, but the timing feels deliberately cruel. Is this really about safety or something else?
It is heartbreaking to see livelihoods destroyed right before harvest season. The economic impact on these families is devastating.