Violation: Destruction of olive trees.

Date of Violation: 07/10/2024.

Location: Huwwara - Yatta Town / Hebron Governorate.

Perpetrator: Settlers.

Affected Parties: Two citizens from Yatta Town.

Details:

On Monday, October 7, 2024, a settler attacked lands cultivated with olive trees in the Huwwara area, southeast of Yatta in the Hebron Governorate, and broke dozens of trees, causing significant damage.

The settler targeted two plots of land, one belonging to citizen Yasser Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Adra and the other to a neighboring citizen from the Abdul Rabbo Houshiya family.

Citizen Testimony:

Citizen Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Adra (50 years old) stated the following in his testimony:

"I live in the village of Al-Deirat, east of Yatta town, and I own a 27-dunum plot of land in the Huwwara area, east of the village. On the morning of Monday, October 7, 2024, I received news from a neighbor near my land that a settler was breaking olive trees on my land and on the land of a neighboring citizen.

When we headed to the site, we saw the settler leaving the area. It became clear to us that he had arrived in his private vehicle, which we managed to photograph. The settler claimed he was searching for his lost sheep in the area, but I don’t understand how searching for sheep is related to destroying olive trees on our lands!

After assessing the damage, we found that the settler had broken 30 olive trees on my land, which are approximately 7 years old. Additionally, he destroyed 40 trees on the land of a neighbor from the Abdul Rabbo-Houshiya family. These trees, which the settler damaged with his hands and feet, had their fruits ruined, as many of them were bearing olives this year."

It is worth noting that this settler resides in a pastoral settlement outpost established in the Shomra area near the village of Al-Zuwaidin, approximately 2 kilometers away from the lands of Huwwara. This settler owns a herd of livestock, which he grazes on citizens' lands and crops. On one occasion, he even reached the doorstep of a citizen's home in the area, preventing him from removing his sheep from their pens. The settler proceeded to graze his livestock on the crops and trees belonging to this citizen.

مشروع: حماية الحقوق البيئية الفلسطينية في مناطق "ج" SPERAC V - FCDO

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of Land Research Center and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the project donor; the Norwegian Refugee Council.

إخلاء المسؤولية: الآراء ووجهات النظر الواردة في هذا التقرير هي آراء ووجهات نظر مركز أبحاث الأراضي ولا تعكس بالضرورة وجهات نظر أو مواقف الجهة المانحة للمشروع؛ المجلس النرويجي. للاجئين