Israeli occupation continues to bulldoze lands north of Ramallah and 158 attacks recorded against olive pickers since beginning of the season

RAMALLAH, Oct. 21 (YPA) – Israeli occupation bulldozers continue to excavate and expand the settlement road in the village of Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah, as part of an accelerated settlement plan aimed at completely controlling the village’s lands and transforming them into areas serving the neighboring settlements and outposts.

 

Palestinian media reported that the occupation forces resumed paving and expanding the road, which settlers paved last August, in the eastern area of ​​the village, to connect the surrounding settlements to the outpost built on top of Jabal al-Ras.

 

The sources explained that the occupation has seized most of the village’s lands, amounting to approximately 4,800 dunams, over the past few months, leaving only about 300 dunams for residents to use for agriculture and grazing.

 

The settlers established a new settlement outpost on the village’s lands several months ago, during which they seized approximately 1,500 dunams, amid protection and support from the occupation army.

 

 

Since the outbreak of the war of extermination on Gaza, the village of Umm Safa has been suffering from a dangerous escalation in attacks by the occupation and settlers. It has witnessed the leveling of agricultural land, home demolition notices, and the burning of homes and vehicles by settlers, under the direct protection of the occupation forces, which prevent residents from reaching their lands.

 

The villagers describe what is happening as an attempt to gradually uproot them from their lands, in preparation for the expansion of settlement outposts and transforming the area into a large settlement bloc separating the northern West Bank from its center.

 

 

In the same context, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission revealed that the occupation and its settlers have carried out 158 ​​attacks against olive pickers since the beginning of the current season, indicating the increasing systematic violence against Palestinian farmers.

 

The commission stated in a press release on Tuesday that 17 of the attacks were carried out directly by the occupation forces, while settlers committed 141 attacks, ranging from violent physical assault, preventing access, restricting movement, and directly shooting farmers, as happened in the Tubas Governorate.

 

The commission added that the attacks were geographically distributed, with 56 attacks in Nablus, 51 in Ramallah, and 15 in Hebron. Meanwhile, 74 attacks targeted lands planted with olives, including 29 uprooting and bulldozing operations that led to the destruction of 795 fruitful olive trees.

 

The Commission confirmed that these practices come within the context of an organized policy aimed at destroying the foundations of Palestinian agricultural life and preventing Palestinians from investing in their lands in preparation for seizing them and expanding settlements throughout the West Bank.