• Violation: Demolition of an agricultural nursery and destruction of its contents.
• Location: Shweika suburb, Tulkarm Governorate.
• Date of Violation: September 25, 2024.
• Perpetrator: The so-called Israeli Civil Administration.
• Affected Party: Mohammed Ahmad Mustafa Abu Ismail.

Description:

On the morning of Wednesday, September 25, 2024, the Israeli occupation forces raided the Shweika suburb, located north of Tulkarm city. They targeted an agricultural nursery situated near the separation and annexation wall. Using a special bulldozer, they completely destroyed the nursery and damaged its contents.

The targeted nursery consisted of four greenhouses spanning an area of 1,000 square meters. It contained at least 3,500 tomato seedlings and a 90-meter-long irrigation pipeline with a quarter-inch diameter.

The nursery is owned by farmer Mohammed Ahmad Mustafa Abu Ismail, who supports a family of 7, including 4 females and 3 children.

The affected farmer stated to a researcher from the Land Research Center:

"I received a stop-work and construction notice in June of this year. I opened a legal file and followed it up since agriculture is our primary source of income. Despite this, the nursery, which is my main livelihood, was targeted. The losses amount to no less than 80,000 shekels. I cannot compensate for the damage now, especially with the ongoing occupation assaults and daily closures imposed by the occupation."

It is worth noting that over the past three years, the so-called construction inspector of the Israeli Civil Administration has targeted vast areas of agricultural greenhouses, issuing stop-work and construction notices. These greenhouses are primarily located near the separation wall northwest of Tulkarm city.

Additionally, the Shweika suburb, located northwest of Tulkarm, has been heavily affected by numerous stop-work and construction notices, particularly in its western area near the separation wall. This wall has seized 35% of the suburb’s lands, placing them behind the barrier. These isolated lands, which were once fertile plains, were cultivated with various crops and vegetables and served as a primary source of income for many families in the region.

 مشروع: حماية الحقوق البيئية الفلسطينية في مناطق "ج" SPERAC IV - GFFO

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