War on trees: Palestinian olive groves become latest casualty in West Bank

A Palestinian man inspects olive trees reportedly uprooted by Israeli soldiers with a bulldozer in the occupied West Bank village of Al-Mughayyir, north of Ramallah, on August 24, 2025.— AFP

Palestinian Olive Groves Uprooted in West Bank with Deep Cultural Toll

Palestinian Olive Groves Uprooted in West Bank: Thousands of Trees Lost Amid Tensions

Israeli forces uprooted 3,000 olive trees in al-Mughayyir, West Bank. Olive groves are central to Palestinian heritage, farming, and identity—but are under escalating threat from settler violence.

A Palestinian man inspects olive trees reportedly uprooted by Israeli soldiers with a bulldozer in the occupied West Bank village of Al-Mughayyir, north of Ramallah, on August 24, 2025.— AFPIn the West Bank village of al-Mughayyir, Israeli bulldozers uprooted hundreds of trees on Sunday as...

In the West Bank village of al-Mughayyir, Israeli military bulldozers recently uprooted around 3,000 olive trees, some of which were over 70 years old—trees that symbolized generational ties to the land. The clearing affected roughly 0.27 square kilometers of groves, with equipment even bearing the Israeli flag as soldiers looked on nearby. Locals say the trees were taken down under the thin pretext of security—an act they see as part of a strategy to displace them and claim their land.Al Jazeera

Olive farming isn’t just an economic activity—it’s woven into Palestinian identity. Olive cultivation represents “sumud,” or steadfastness, and supports nearly 800,000 families while contributing about 14% to the Palestinian economy. During the harvest, known as “Palestine’s wedding,” entire communities come together to gather crops—and schools pause to honor this tradition.Wikipedia

This latest incident in al-Mughayyir is far from isolated. Across the West Bank, settler attacks against olive groves have become increasingly violent. In Burin, near Nablus, settlers cut down sixty-year-old trees planted by the same family over decades, leaving the farmer heartbroken at the wreckage.Equal Times Olive groves are also torched—made worse by official policies and restricted access that allow land seizures under the guise of abandonment.BBCAnadolu Ajansı

United Nations data highlights the crisis's scope: hundreds of attacks on olive groves, thousands of unharvested acres, and a sharply declining olive oil yield. The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture warns that in 2023 alone, lost output cost tens of millions of dollars, especially in the north.Anadolu Ajansı+1



Beyond the economic damage, there’s a social and psychological wound. One farmer reflected on her heartbreak: waking up to find 35 olive trees cut down—trees planted by her father decades ago. She hugged the broken trunks goodbye before being removed by the army from her own field.Equal Times

These targeted attacks are part of a broader effort to weaken Palestinian presence in rural areas. Settlers expand through creating new outposts and cutting off farmers from their lands. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities often fail to protect Palestinian farmers—from assault and bulldozers to water cuts—despite calls from international observers for action.The Guardian+1Anadolu Ajansı

Olive groves, rooted in both soil and heritage, carry symbolic significance. With each tree destroyed, farmers face not only financial loss but an erosion of cultural identity. The olive harvest season, once a time of celebration, has become a season of fear.

Replanting efforts have begun, but regrowing an olive tree takes decades. In the meantime, communities face a choice: stand guard, despite the danger, or see years of history wiped out. For Palestinians, these groves are memory, livelihood, and home—and they will continue to resist losing them.