Israeli Military Uproots 3,000 Olive Trees in West Bank Village, Escalating Tensions

Ramallah, Occupied West Bank – August 23, 2025: The Israeli military has destroyed approximately 3,000 olive trees in al-Mughayyir, a Palestinian village of about 4,000 residents northeast of Ramallah, according to the head of the local council. The destruction is part of a broader wave of violence and displacement in the occupied West Bank, amid Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.

On Saturday, the Israeli military issued an order to uproot the trees across a 0.27-square-kilometer (0.1-square-mile) area, claiming they posed a “security threat” to a nearby Israeli settlement road. The operation followed a reported shooting incident involving an Israeli settler, which led to a village lockdown since Thursday. Marzouq Abu Naim, deputy head of the village council, reported that Israeli soldiers raided over 30 homes, damaging property and vehicles.

The uprooting of olive trees, a significant cultural and economic symbol for Palestinians, is seen as part of Israel’s long-standing efforts to seize land and displace residents in the occupied territories. Since October 2023, when Israel intensified its military operations in Gaza, the West Bank has witnessed a surge in violence, with over 2,370 settler attacks recorded from January to July 2025, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The Ramallah area reported the highest number of attacks at 585, followed by 479 in Nablus. At least 671 Palestinians, including 129 children, have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank during this period. Palestinian researcher Hamza Zubeidat described the destruction as part of Israel’s “continuous” strategy to evict Palestinians from their lands, a policy he says dates back to 1967. “Uprooting trees, confiscating water springs, and blocking access to farms and water sources creates food and water insecurity,” Zubeidat said, noting al-Mughayyir’s reliance on agriculture and livestock.

The Israeli military has not responded to requests for comment on the incident. The destruction in al-Mughayyir coincides with reports of Israel advancing illegal settlement plans, including the E1 project, which critics argue further undermines the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state.

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