Land Research Center

Violation: Cutting and destroying 200 olive trees and agricultural tools.

Location: Al Mughayyir village, northeast Ramallah.

Date: May,4^th 2025.

Perpetrators: Settlers from a new colonial outpost. 

Affected party: Two agricultural families from the village.

Details:

Sunday afternoon, May,4^th 2025, Al Mughayyir village located southeast Ramallah witnessed a new attack by settlers from pastoral outpost located on confiscated lands in Al Mughayyir village. 

A group of settlers took advantage of the absence of farmers to agricultural lands in ‘Marj Si’a’ area located on linking road between Khirbet Abu Falah and Al Mughayyir village, due to settlers’ threating, they destroyed and vandalized trees as 200 olive trees were cut and completely damaged through cut their stems using electric saws, in addition to damaging agricultural tools that farmers were used it in agricultural work.

Below is a table with the names of affected lands :

The affected farmer Samer Mora told:

‘’ I have been working in agriculture over past years, and used to exist daily in my land and take care of trees, as the situation has changed since the beginning of the war on Gaza, my existence on the land has become limited as previous times, due to breed settlers’ attacks. My land located on Al Dahrat area followed Turmus'ayya town, it is a targeted location by settlers that they have established several colonial outposts in the area as previously have been attacked by them and that is why my existence is limited for my safety. A few days ago, I received a call from one of the farmers told me that he saw my trees were cut. Noted that my land located nearby main road and possible to seen it. Despite of the danger of returning land, I decided to headed to the location with two farmers from the town. What I saw there was shocked, the trees that I had planted over past 8 years were completely cut. Then I reported The Ministry of Agriculture and village council. But I am confused: if I try to replant the land it is might I will be subjected to another attack by settlers. I don’t know how to continue but it is painful for human to preventing from accessing his land in such a way.’’

According to field research indicators, a group of settlers since the events of October 7^th 2023 carried out to established several outposts in Turmua’YY town and others in Al Mughayyir village, as breeding the assaults on farmers and destruction agricultural fields in more location. 

The most notable attack that Al Mughayyir village has been subjected during the War since October, 7^th 2023:

• In April 2025, the occupation demolishes agricultural structure in Al Mughayyair village, east Ramallah.
•  In February 2025, settlers of pastoral outpost ravaging lands to establishing colonial pastoral outpost on Al Mughayyir village lands, east Ramallah. 
• In October 2024, settlers establishing a new colonial outpost on Al Mughayyir village lands in Ramallah Governorate.
• Illegal Colonists set fire to citizens houses and properties in Al-Mughayyir village / north Ramallah.
•   In March 2024, settlers of pastoral outpost cattle their sheep in olive fields in Al Qabon area, east Al Mughayyir village/ Ramallah governorate. 
• In October 2023, settlers from Adi ad settlement cut down 265 olive trees on Al Mughayyir village/ Ramallah governorate.

Al Mughayyir[1]:

Al Mughayyir is located 30 km to the north east of Ramallah; it is inhabited by around 3,249 people according to the PCBS statistics conducted in 2017.

 Most of the village agricultural fields are located in its eastern parts; its total area is 33055 dunums, 501 of which are built-up area.

The Israeli occupation confiscated 37 dunums of Al Mughayyir lands for bypass #458.

According to Oslo Accords, about 95% of the village is under Area C while only 5% is under Area B.

•            Area B: 1,695 dunums.

•            Area C: 31,360 dunums.

Legal Commentary:

The Palestinian environment, in general, is subjected to numerous environmental violations by the Israeli occupation, disregarding all international and national laws and conventions related to the protection of environmental rights. The right to live in a clean and healthy environment is a fundamental human right that has been inherent to mankind since the beginning of creation. The occupation often attempts to present itself as being concerned with international environmental issues, despite having signed major environmental protection agreements, such as the Basel Convention in 1989, the Rotterdam Convention in 2008, the Stockholm Convention in 2001, and the Ramsar Convention in 1971, as well as air quality and climate protocols. Nevertheless, Israel continues to violate all of these treaties without accountability or oversight.

In addition to the provisions regarding the right to enjoy a clean and healthy environment for all those under military occupation according to international laws, conventions, and treaties, such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 2200A (d-21) on December 16, 1966, in Article (1), paragraph (2): "...All peoples, in pursuit of their own objectives, have the right to freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising from the international economic cooperation based on the principle of mutual benefit and international law. In no case shall a people be deprived of its means of subsistence...".

Undoubtedly, the violations carried out by the Israeli occupation contradicts with the laws of the occupation state itself before any other laws. Referring to the details of this case, the Israeli Penal Code of 1977 and its amendments stipulate that trespassing on someone else's property to commit a criminal act punishable by law is an offense. By reading Article 452 of the Israeli Penal Code, we find that the law punishes those who commit an offense or cause damage to property such as (a water well, a water reservoir, a dam, a floodgate, planted trees, a bridge, a tank, or a water cistern) with a penalty of five years imprisonment.

In addition to, 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 commit a crime shall be punished by imprisonment for two years:

(1) Enters or crosses the property;

  (2) After entering the property legally, remains there unlawfully.

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

By reading the text of this article, we find that the Israeli Penal Code criminalizes the mere act of entering someone else's property without permission, with the intent to insult, harass, or intimidate, and punishes this act with two years of imprisonment. The punishment increases to four years if the offender commits any act on someone else's property using a weapon or a sharp tool, referred to as a "cold weapon." This is explicitly criminalized in the text of Article 447 of the aforementioned Israeli Penal Code. Additionally, a penalty of 5 years imprisonment is imposed on those who cause damage to property mentioned in Article 452. Therefore, the violator, the "settler," should face a compounded violation: the first for entering a property that is not theirs, and the second for trespassing on and cutting down the planted trees, resulting in environmental harm.

Therefore, the Israeli aggressor blatantly violates both international laws and treaties, as well as the internal laws of the "occupying state," in a clear violation. Consequently, the "Israeli judiciary" must hold the settlers accountable and punish them for these actions based on the provisions of their own laws. However, there is no legal accountability for the aggressors by the Israeli judiciary. Despite this, every human being on this earth has the right to live in a clean, healthy, and safe environment, free from any violation or aggression against it.

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