Israeli occupation turns West Bank land into waste dumping sites

WEST BANK, Dec. 23 (YPA) – Palestinian officials have warned that the Israeli occupation is deliberately converting large areas of Palestinian land in the West Bank into dumping grounds for waste generated by Israeli settlements and industries.

According to the officials, waste from settlements—including hazardous materials—is transported from factories and hospitals inside Israel to several locations in the West Bank, most notably the towns of Ni‘lin and Rantis west of Ramallah, as well as the town of Idhna in the Hebron district.

Local testimonies indicate that trucks transporting the waste are frequently driven by Palestinian drivers holding Israeli identification, operating under the supervision and oversight of occupation forces.

Ni’lin Mayor Yousef al-Khawaja, told Al Jazeera Mubasher that the town hosts an unregulated dumping site for hazardous solid waste brought from “Israel”, noting that the municipality has sought to shut down the site since it was established.

Al-Khawaja warned of serious health and environmental risks facing residents near areas due to foul odors, smoke, and toxic gases emitted from the dump, as well as ongoing disturbance caused by the heavy nighttime traffic of waste trucks moving through residential neighborhoods.

@E.Y.M