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// DOSSIER — israeli-military-bulldozers-uproot-palestinian-olive-trees-west
Israeli Military Bulldozers Uproot Palestinian Olive Trees in West Bank Ahead of Harvest
REL_TIME: 26 Sep 2026 09:12Z · LANG: EN
In late September 2026, Israeli military forces deployed bulldozers to uproot decades-old Palestinian olive trees in the West Bank village of Deir Nizam (Deir Nidham) near Ramallah. The operations, which took place over three consecutive days following a military order issued on September 21, 2026, devastated dozens of dunams of agricultural land just days before the annual October olive harvest. While Israeli authorities have historically cited security concerns and the prevention of ambushes as justifications for land clearing, Palestinian landowners and human rights organizations reject these claims. They argue the destruction is a deliberate effort to deprive farmers of their primary livelihood—with the olive sector comprising 8% of Palestinian GDP—and to facilitate the annexation of West Bank territory.
// Background
The olive harvest is a vital economic and cultural pillar in the occupied West Bank, supporting over 60,000 jobs and contributing approximately 8% to the Palestinian agricultural GDP. Beyond its economic value, the olive tree serves as a profound symbol of Palestinian identity and connection to the land. Tensions and agricultural destruction have escalated significantly in the territory since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, marked by a surge in settler attacks and military land-clearing operations.
// Key Developments
- Israeli military forces uprooted decades-old olive trees over three consecutive days in the West Bank village of Deir Nizam.
- The destruction occurred just days before the annual olive harvest, which is scheduled to begin in the first week of October.
- A military order issued on September 21, 2026, authorized clearing vegetation and uprooting trees across approximately 99.79 dunams.
- The olive sector is a cornerstone of the Palestinian economy, accounting for roughly 8% of GDP and supporting over 60,000 jobs.
- Landowners and human rights groups accuse Israel of using security pretexts to economically devastate farmers and pave the way for land annexation.
// Timeline
-
The Palestinian Authority's Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission reports that attacks on agricultural land affected 21,508 trees, including 19,375 olive trees.
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Israeli occupation authorities issue a military order directing the removal of wild vegetation and uprooting of trees across 99.79 dunams in Deir Nizam.
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Israeli bulldozers systematically clear land and uproot olive trees in Deir Nizam for three consecutive days, blocking landowners from accessing their properties.
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Landowners witness the destruction of their groves and speak to international media outlets about the devastating loss of their crops.
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The scheduled commencement of the annual Palestinian olive harvest season.
// Perspectives
[Palestinian Farmers and Landowners]
Condemn the destruction as an economic and cultural assault that deprives them of their primary livelihood and connection to their ancestral land.
[Israeli Military / Occupation Authorities]
Justify land-clearing operations under the pretext of security, claiming the removal of trees prevents ambushes and security threats against troops.
[Palestinian Human Rights Groups & Activists]
Reject Israel's security justifications, viewing the actions as systematic economic deprivation and a precursor to formal West Bank annexation.
// Quotes
“All our olive trees, including the newly planted ones, were uprooted. Also our neighbours', they uprooted them all. They left us with nothing.”
“Nothing remains for me as a source of livelihood except God Almighty.”
“From this land, my brothers and I produce 120 drums of olive oil. Our neighbours produce the same. They uprooted trees everywhere, even between the houses.”
