Occupied Jerusalem, Feb. 8 (SANA) Israeli forces and settlers uprooted at least 824 trees in the occupied West Bank over the past week, the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture said on Sunday.
In a report carried by Palestinian media, the ministry said incidents recorded between Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 included the uprooting, cutting and breaking of fruit trees—particularly olive trees—along with the demolition of agricultural facilities, damage to water sources, attacks on farmers, restrictions on access to farmland and pastures, and the theft of livestock.
The ministry estimated direct losses at about $706,000, adding that 526 heads of livestock were stolen during the same period.
It called on the international community and human rights organizations to provide protection for Palestinian farmers and to hold Israeli authorities accountable.
Olive cultivation plays a central role in the Palestinian agricultural sector, and rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over damage to olive groves and farmland in the West Bank.
