The Israeli military has ordered the destruction of approximately 3,000 olive trees in the village of al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, according to the local council. The land clearing, which covers an area of 0.27 square kilometres, is reported to be for alleged security reasons related to a nearby road used by Israeli settlers.

The village has been under a strict military closure since last Thursday following an unverified claim of gunfire directed at a settler. During the lockdown, forces have conducted raids on more than 30 homes, causing significant damage to property and vehicles. These actions are seen as part of a broader pattern of land seizure and displacement of communities across the occupied territories.

According to figures from UN humanitarian agencies, the West Bank has experienced a sharp rise in violence since October 2023, with over 2,370 settler attacks recorded between January and July of this year. In the same period, at least 671 Palestinians, including 129 children, have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers. For agricultural communities like al-Mughayyir, which relies heavily on farming, the loss of olive groves, a vital economic and cultural resource, threatens to deepen severe food and water insecurity. A researcher familiar with the region described the destruction as consistent with a long-standing strategy of displacing Palestinian residents from both rural and urban areas.