Israel Uproots 777 Trees in West Bank, Losses Hit $761,000

The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture says Israeli forces and settlers uprooted and damaged 777 trees across the occupied West Bank in one week, causing financial losses exceeding $761,000.

In a report published Saturday, the ministry said the period between February 5 and February 11 saw a “notable escalation” in violations targeting the agricultural sector across several West Bank governorates.

According to the statement, the incidents included land bulldozing, destruction of agricultural infrastructure, damage to water sources and widespread attacks on fruit-bearing trees. The ministry also reported settler assaults on crops and farming property, as well as restrictions preventing farmers from accessing their land.

Officials documented the uprooting and destruction of 777 trees, most of them olive trees, a key pillar of the Palestinian agricultural economy. The governorates of Hebron in the south and Nablus in the north recorded the highest levels of damage.

The ministry estimated total losses during the reporting period at more than $761,000.

It said the attacks are part of “accelerating policies aimed at undermining Palestinian agricultural resilience,” particularly in areas classified as Area C under the Oslo II Accord.

Under the Oslo II Accord signed in 1995, the West Bank was divided into three administrative zones: Area A under full Palestinian control; Area B under Israeli security control and Palestinian civil administration; and Area C under full Israeli civil and security control. Area C makes up about 60% of the West Bank and requires nearly impossible-to-obtain Israeli permits for construction or land development, according to Palestinian officials.

Separately, the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported earlier this month that Israeli forces and settlers carried out 1,872 attacks in January alone. Of those, 1,404 were attributed to Israeli forces and 468 to settlers.