Israeli forces destroy West Bank orchards and restrict farmer access

Israeli bulldozers uprooted grapevines on seven dunams of land near Beit Ummar last November, according to a family that had cultivated the plot for generations. Soldiers also barred the owners from approaching within 500 metres of the site, citing proximity to the Karmei Tzur settlement.

The same family previously earned at least 10,000 shekels from the May and June harvest. After the trees were removed, members attempted to harvest from drier plots farther away, but yields declined.

Access limits since October 2023 Since the start of the Gaza war, Israeli authorities have allowed Palestinian farmers only a few hours each month to reach their fields. Families use the brief windows to prune olive and grape plants before the next season.

The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture reported in January that damage to greenhouses, roads, and equipment reached $2.57 million in 2025, while total direct losses exceeded $103 million.

Beekeeping as alternative livelihood One resident of Susya in Masafer Yatta switched to beekeeping after settlers killed his sheep in 2010. The apiary grew to 120 hives by 2016 before settlers destroyed 100 of them, causing losses of about 200,000 shekels.

The beekeeper moved the remaining hives closer to his home and urged neighbors to adopt the practice because hives are harder for outsiders to remove. The Agriculture Ministry recorded $154,000 in direct losses to West Bank beekeepers from settler attacks.

Rising poverty and unemployment A World Food Programme survey showed household poverty in the West Bank increased from 12 percent before October 2023 to 28 percent by the end of 2025. About 78 percent of households reported lower incomes, and more than 60 percent said they could not cover basic monthly expenses.