Israeli forces continue raid on West Bank village, raze hundreds of trees

Israeli forces are continuing their raid of the Al-Mughayyir village, northeast of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank for the fourth consecutive raid, where at least 14 Palestinians have been confirmed arrested.

The army has been razing swathes of Palestinian-owned land to create a new settler road, uprooting olive trees and levelling agricultural lands in the process. Thousands of dunums have been damaged, threatening the livelihoods of the olive farmers.

The army issued a military order to remove trees across 297,000 square meters of Al-Mughayyir’s land under the guise of a security pretext, according to the Palestinian Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission.

The razing was accompanied by the army attacking homes and beating Palestinian residents, as well as detaining entire families for long hours while their money and gold jewellery were stolen.

The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said that over the course of three days of the raid, 14 residents have been arrested, including the head of the village council, Amin Abu Aliya. The forces also interrogated dozens of residents.

“Based on testimonies from al-Mughayyer, occupation forces used threats, systematic intimidation and terror, and severe beatings. Among the most prominent threats directed at families and residents was the threat of direct execution by shooting,” The Society said in their statement, based on witness testimonies.

Witnesses have reported the army withdrew from the village on Sunday, but Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers remained stationed nearby.

The army also stormed the city of Bethlehem, arrested a recently freed Palestinian prisoner from his home, while also firing tear gas and sound grenades.

Settler attacks continue

Palestinian farmers in the Jordan Valley were prevented from working on Sunday by Israeli settlers, forcing them out of their land and preventing them from preparing for the upcoming farming season, Wafa reports.

Israeli settlers also continued attacks in Hebron, where an elderly Palestinian man and a young farmer were assaulted with stones and clubs while picking grapes in an attempt to restrict Palestinian farmers from doing their job. Another group bulldozed Palestinian land in Masafer Yatta.

In Jericho, a settler seized a Palestinian home after breaking into the house and staying inside.