Israeli settlers destroy Palestinian olive trees near Ramallah
Rights groups report coordinated settler violence targeting farms, homes, and civilians under military protection across West Bank villages
RAMALLAH, Palestine (MNTV) — Israeli settlers uprooted and cut down olive trees in the town of Taybeh, east of Ramallah, in the latest in a series of attacks targeting Palestinian farmland and property in the occupied West Bank.
According to Arab News, local reports said armed settlers entered agricultural areas and destroyed multiple olive trees, a key livelihood source for Palestinian families, in what human rights groups describe as part of an escalating pattern of land seizure and intimidation.
The Al-Baydar human rights organization said the attacks were not isolated, noting that settler activity across the region has increasingly targeted farms, infrastructure, and civilian communities, often under the protection or presence of Israeli forces.
In a separate incident in the Abu Faza’ Al-Kaabneh community east of Taybeh, settlers reportedly stormed residential areas and harassed schoolchildren, further intensifying fears among residents in the area.
Activist Osama Makhameh said armed settlers, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, attacked the home of Riyad Yousef Shanaran in Wadi Al-Rakhim, south of Hebron, where they threw incendiary devices that set fire to a sheep pen and an oven. Shanaran suffered burns while attempting to extinguish the blaze.
Local sources said the coordinated nature of the attacks reflects a broader escalation in settler violence across the West Bank, where Palestinian communities continue to face repeated raids, property destruction, and restrictions on movement.
According to data cited by the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, settlers have destroyed or damaged thousands of olive trees across multiple governorates, including Hebron, Ramallah and Al-Bireh, Nablus, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem, severely impacting agricultural production and rural livelihoods.
In another development, Israeli forces issued demolition and stop-work orders for 15 homes in the town of Tuqu, southeast of Bethlehem, including residences that are already inhabited.
Tuqu Mayor Saqr Suleiman said military units raided residential neighborhoods and distributed the orders, giving residents only a short deadline to comply, despite previous notices and ongoing housing needs in the area.
Human rights organizations say such measures, combined with settler attacks, are contributing to systematic pressure on Palestinian communities across the occupied territory, further deepening displacement risks and instability.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
