Land Research Center

Violation: Burning of livestock barn

Location: Wadi Al Simsem

Date: March, 30^th 2025

Perpetrators: Settlers

Affected party: Farmer Samer Makharzeh

Details:

Farmer Samer Jamal Abd Al-Azeez Makharza (25 years old) stated that settlers set fire in his livestock barn in Khirbet Wadi Al Simsem, south of Hebron governorate.

The affected farmer stated as follows:

“l have lived with my family in Khirbet Wadi Al Simsem for ages, our house made of cement and bricks was demolished by the Israeli occupation in 2024. We are still living in Khirbet Wadi Al Simsem, continuing with livestock husbandry, farming our fields and grazing our animals. ’Tina’ settlement located opposite Khirbet Wadi Al Simsem. In which the settlers often carry out provocative tours on quad bikes. They shout vulgarities at us, demanding us to vacate the area and move to Ad Dhahiriya. On Sunday afternoon, March, 30^th 2025 – which coincides with Eid Al Fitar, I saw eight settlers riding on three agricultural quad bikes, as two of them were masked. They were driving provocatively around us, when they are near the barns, I heard a loud noise almost like an explosion, as the vehicles approached one of the barns at the outskirts of the town and then fire appeared from the barn, made of metal sheets and contained by plastic and traps. The flams would have spread. I immediately realized it was being lit by one of the settlers, thick smoke began to rise as the fire became larger. Sheep, including some young ones were trapped inside. My brothers and I ventured in to extinguish the fire. We managed to contain the burning section to prevent the fire from spreading over the rest of the barn.

The affected farmer told that the sheep barn were trampling inside the barn, frightened by the fire and the sound of it, within this commotion, three sheep met their demise. There were signs of stress in their mothers, which included: coughing, fatigue, and weakness as a consequence of the heat and smoke covering the barn.

Makharzeh noted that he was following up on the condition of livestock with the help of veterinarians, but the treatment is very expensive.

It is worth noting that Khirbet Wadi Al Simsem, and Kirbet Al Rahwa are located south of Ad Dahiriya town, and considered as part of residential communities. About 150 people live in these two communities, working in livestock farming and cultivating their lands. in close proximately of these communities ‘’Tina’’ settlement a colonial grazing outpost located over 15 years. Also these settlers attacked on farmers and their proprieties.

Related links:

• In October, 2024 settlers attack on Structure and proprieties belongs to the farmer in Khirbet Rahwa, south of Ad Dhahiriya / Hebron governorate.
• In June, 2024 , the occupation demolished four structures in Khirbet Al Rahwa, south of Ad Dhahiriya/ Hebron governorate.

Burning Agricultural Structures and Its Environmental Impact:

The Israeli occupation and his settlers are continuing in their previous method for targeting the livestock, the occupation used several method to destroying the Palestinian agricultural sector including: stealing sheep, sprayed the poisons and chemical material, shouted fire. Killing livestock and their grazers, in addition to demolition and destruction of bricks, destroying the irrigation networks from the communities, as thirsty to livestock to livestock to preventing them to springs water, with burning of sheep while they are alive, all these actions are with aim of destroying the agricultural and environmental sector because the Israeli actions.

Many Palestinian farmers construct agricultural rooms on their lands to rest, storing farming tools, fertilizers, chemical pesticides, irrigation pipes, and other equipment. Some of these rooms also contain furniture made of materials like plastic or foam.

These rooms are widespread across Palestinian lands and have recently become a frequent target of Israeli occupation forces and settlers. In addition to demolition and threats, settlers often resort to burning agricultural rooms, as seen in the case of the Zuhour family, whose agricultural room was set ablaze by settlers.

The burning of these rooms causes significant environmental harm, especially since they often contain plastic materials and chemical pesticides. This leads to the release of various pollutants into the air, causing discomfort and harm to humans, animals, and crops.

Plastic materials, rich in carbon, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions when burned. The fires also release airborne ash particles, further polluting the atmosphere. If chemical pesticides are present in the rooms, their evaporation during the fire releases toxic substances into the air, posing serious health risks to people who inhale these pesticide fumes.

Despite the fact that the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection is the responsible authority for environmental protection and pollution control, as stated on its official website—where it mentions that "air pollution does not stay in one place, nor does it know borders; it spreads according to climate conditions, winds, temperature, and humidity"—the primary contributors to air pollution are the settlers in the settlements and outposts across the West Bank. The burning of agricultural structures, trees, crops, other buildings, and even Palestinian homes and vehicles is a widespread practice among settlers. According to the Israeli Criminal Procedures Order of 2022, "burning waste in an illegal location is subject to a fine of 2,000 shekels for an individual and 12,000 shekels for a company." The order further acknowledges that such practices can lead to chronic illnesses and an increased risk of cancer due to the inhalation of toxic substances.

The burning of such agricultural greenhouses is no less harmful than burning waste; in fact, it is even more detrimental because it occurs on agricultural land that is privately owned by Palestinians. Therefore, the violation should be considered more severe due to the illegal entry onto someone else's property and the environmental harm caused.

Undoubtedly, the actions of the Israeli side violate not only international laws but also Israeli laws themselves. Referring to the details of this case, the Israeli Penal Code of 1977 and its amendments stipulate that trespassing on someone else's property with the intent to commit a crime is punishable by law. Article 447 of the Penal Code states:

"Anyone who does any of the following with the intent to intimidate, insult, or harass the property owner, or to commit a crime, shall be punished with imprisonment for two years:

(1) enters or crosses the property;

 (2) enters the property unlawfully."

(b) A crime is committed under this section if the offender carries a firearm or a sharp weapon, and the punishment is imprisonment for four years.

Reading the text of this article, it is clear that the Israeli Penal Code criminalizes the mere act of entering someone else's property without authorization, with the intent to insult, harass, or intimidate, and punishes it with a two-year prison sentence. The punishment is doubled if the offender enters the property and commits a crime, such as using a weapon or sharp tool, or even vandalizing agricultural land by cutting, burning, or destroying it. This is explicitly prohibited in the text of the aforementioned Penal Code.

مشروع: حماية الحقوق البيئية الفلسطينية في مناطق "ج" SPERAC IV - GFFO

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of Land Research Center and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the project donor; the Norwegian Refugee Council.

إخلاء المسؤولية: الآراء ووجهات النظر الواردة في هذا التقرير هي آراء ووجهات نظر مركز أبحاث الأراضي ولا تعكس بالضرورة وجهات نظر أو مواقف الجهة المانحة للمشروع؛ المجلس النرويجي. للاجئين