Tree-Cutting and Livestock Theft: The Latest Tactics in the Ongoing Conflict in Palestine
Overview of Recent Incidents
In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces and settlers have intensified their tactics against Palestinian agriculture, cutting down hundreds of olive and fruit trees and seizing livestock in multiple raids this week. Confirmed incidents in Nablus, Jenin, and Qalqilya districts highlight a strategic dimension of the conflict: environmental and economic warfare that threatens livelihoods amid a protracted humanitarian crisis.
Recent Operations and Impact
Recent operations, verified by eyewitnesses and local officials cited in Anadolu Agency reporting, involved Israeli army units and settlers uprooting over 500 olive trees in Nablus' Burin village on January 28, 2026, while stealing dozens of sheep and goats from shepherds in Jenin. These acts follow a pattern of 1,200+ trees felled in the past month alone, per Palestinian farmer unions. No casualties were reported, but the raids displaced herders and destroyed irrigation systems, confirmed via video footage shared by affected communities. Unconfirmed reports suggest coordination between military and settler groups, with some livestock traced to nearby outposts.
Historical Context and Significance
This fits a long arc of agricultural sabotage in the West Bank, where land control has been central since the 1967 occupation. Olive groves, comprising 50% of Palestinian agricultural output, have faced systematic destruction—over 1 million trees uprooted since 2000, per UN OCHA data. It connects to Gaza's ongoing crisis: since January 15, 2026, intensified blockades have triggered famine warnings, exacerbated by environmental degradation from bombardment. The January 27 Hamas disarmament agreement with Amnesty International aimed to ease Gaza aid flows but has not stemmed West Bank escalations, underscoring divided conflict theaters. Historically, such tactics echo British Mandate-era land policies and post-1948 displacements, reframing farming as resistance.
Why This Matters
These incidents weaponize the environment, eroding Palestinian food sovereignty and economy—agriculture employs 20% of West Bank workers, generating $1.2 billion annually. Tree loss accelerates soil erosion and desertification, compounding Gaza's humanitarian fallout where 90% of farmland is unusable post-2023-26 hostilities. Strategically, it pressures communities into submission, inflating settler land grabs (now 45% of Area C). For Israel, it secures buffer zones; for Palestinians, it fuels radicalization. This "slow violence" shifts conflict from kinetic to ecological, demanding international scrutiny on dual-use violations under Geneva Conventions.
Public Reactions and Statements
Palestinian farmers' groups decried the raids on X (formerly Twitter): @PalFarmersUnion tweeted, "Another 500 olives gone—starving our future," garnering 15k retweets. Activist @AwniMehyar posted drone footage: "Settlers steal sheep under army watch—#LandTheft." Israeli officials dismissed claims, with settler leader Daniella Weiss stating on X, "Undeveloped land must be reclaimed." UN envoy @TorWistedt warned of "agricultural genocide," echoing expert @B’Tselem: "Systematic uprooting is control by other means."
Looking Ahead
Expect heightened herder militancy, with grassroots food sovereignty movements like "Plant-a-Tree" campaigns scaling up—potentially 10k new saplings by spring. International responses may include EU sanctions on settler goods if verified by HRW probes. Continued destruction risks West Bank flare-ups mirroring Gaza's January 2026 crisis, spurring BDS surges and UNSC debates. Palestinian adaptations, such as hydroponics and solar irrigation, could evolve resistance into resilient economies.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
