Violation: Destruction and cutting of 100 fruitful olive trees and theft of olive crops.

Location: Qaryut Village, south of Nablus City.

Date of Violation: November 3, 2024.

Perpetrators: Settlers from the "Eli" settlement.

Affected Parties: 17 farmers from the village.

Description:

The Israeli occupation continues its systematic targeting of agricultural lands to force farmers off their properties, inflict maximum harm, and prevent them from benefiting from their lands. The ultimate aim is to seize these lands and alter their character. This year’s olive harvest season has witnessed unprecedented aggression, marking the most hostile period in years.

In the southern countryside of Nablus Governorate, Israeli settlers exploited the farmers’ inability to access their agricultural lands in the "Al-Bateesha" area, southeast of Qaryut village. They carried out an attack targeting fruitful and ancient olive trees. At least 100 productive olive trees, over 150 years old, were cut down and severely damaged. As a result, farmers were deprived of harvesting the olives from these trees.

The attack originated from settlers based in the nearby "Eli" settlement, known for their repeated assaults on Palestinian-owned property and the destruction of olive trees.

Farmer Youssef Sadiq Haj Mohammed stated:

"The Al-Bateesha area is rich in olive trees, which the farmers in the village heavily rely on to secure their livelihood through olive oil. However, accessing the area requires prior coordination. Since the events of the war in Gaza until just a few days ago, no farmer has been able to enter the area."

He added:
"We were informed by the Palestinian Civil Liaison Office that we could access Al-Bateesha on Sunday to harvest the olives. However, we were shocked to discover that many trees had been cut down, while others had their olive crops stolen. It seems the damage caused by cutting the trees occurred months ago. We immediately reported the violation to the Civil Liaison Office and the governorate. The farmers were devastated by this discovery."

The following table lists the names of the affected landowners and the nature of the damage, according to the Qaryut Village Council:

According to field research records by the LRC team, numerous attacks on olive trees by settlers in the "Al-Bateesha" area have been documented. These include deliberate fires set by settlers and the cutting down of ancient trees.

Tree Attacks: A Form of Israeli Violations Against the Palestinian Environment

The frequency of attacks by settlers and the Israeli army on Palestinian trees has been increasing. According to the field research team at the LRC, from the beginning of 2024 until October 31, 2024, over 57,770 trees and saplings have been targeted—the highest number in more than a decade. Of these, 90% were completely destroyed, signaling a looming environmental catastrophe.

The loss of trees, whether through cutting, burning, or poisoning, leads to a reduction in the number of trees, shrinking the vegetative cover that provides the region with large amounts of oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide. Additionally, the loss of trees deprives animals of shelter and food, threatening the extinction of certain species due to the destruction of their natural habitat, which in turn harms biodiversity.

Theft of Olive Harvest:

In addition to the aforementioned violations, settlers targeted an olive grove in the "Al-Sahlat" area of Qaryut, near the "Eli" settlement, on the morning of Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The settlers stole no less than 100 kilograms of olives and agricultural equipment used for harvesting from the land of farmer Jabr Suleiman Jabr Khateeb.

The Impacted farmer stated:

"As we headed to our land to harvest olives, we were attacked by Israeli soldiers and settlers. The soldiers threatened to kill me and my wife and ordered us to leave the area immediately. Meanwhile, the settlers stole the olives we had already harvested, as well as all the agricultural equipment we had with us."

Introduction to Qaryut Village:

Qaryut is located 20 kilometers southeast of Nablus. The village spans an area of 8,471 dunams, of which 312 dunams are designated as its built-up area. The village has a population of 2,321 residents. The Israeli occupation has confiscated 1,332 dunams of Qaryut's lands for the establishment of the following settlements:

1. Shilo Settlement: Confiscated 779 dunams of Qaryut's lands , Built-up area: 1,347 dunams and Established in 1978.
2. Eli Settlement: Confiscated 553 dunams of Qaryut's lands , Built-up area: 3,360 dunams andEstablished in 1984.

It is noteworthy that the occupation imposes restrictions on Palestinian farmers, requiring prior coordination and permits to access their lands near (the Separation Wall, settlements, bypass roads, military camps, etc.). During the period when farmers await these permits, settlers exploit their absence to steal entire olive harvests or damage the trees by burning, uprooting, breaking, or cutting them.

The field research team has documented several similar cases across the West Bank, involving thefts and prevention of farmers from accessing their lands. These incidents have resulted in the theft of more than 25,000 kilograms of olive fruit. Below are key examples of related incidents:

• 06/10/2024: Settlers close an agricultural road in the village of Al-Nazla Al-Sharqiya, Tulkarm Governorate.
• 09/10/2024: The Israeli army blocks an agricultural road in Kafr ad-Dik, Salfit Governorate.
• 15/10/2024: At the start of the harvest season, settlers steal olive fruits from citizens' lands in Bani Na'im, east of Hebron.
• 15/10/2024: Settlers steal approximately 300 kilograms of olive fruits in Imreiha village, west of Jenin.
• 17/10/2024: Settlers steal olive fruits from fields in the village of Rameen, Tulkarm Governorate.
• 21/10/2024: The occupation prevents a farmer from accessing his land to harvest olives in Beit Awwa, west of Hebron.
• 23/10/2024: Settlers steal olive fruits from 22 dunams of land in Beit Dajan, east of Nablus.
• 26/10/2024: Settlers assault a farmer during olive harvesting in Tel Rumeida, central Hebron.
• 27/10/2024: Settlers from "Mevo Dotan" settlement expel farmers and steal olive fruits in Ya'bad, Jenin Governorate.
• 27/10/2024: Settlers steal olive fruits and graze their sheep in olive fields in Jit village, Qalqilya Governorate.
• 01/11/2024: The Israeli army prevents farmers from harvesting olives in Deir Al-Asal Al-Tahta, west of Hebron.

[1] Source:LRC.

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