Land Research Center

Violation: Cut and vandalize 57 olive trees and agricultural equipment.

Location: Al- Mughayyir village/ Ramallah governorate.

Date: June,4^th 2025.

Perpetrators: Settlers.

Affected party: Two agricultural families from the village.

Details:

Settlers live in colonial outpost located on the lands of Turmus'ayya attacked in ‘’Marj si’a ‘’ located in the road that links between Kharbet abu Falah and Al Mughayyir village, northeast Ramallah governorate.

On Wednesday, June,4^th 2025, settlers carrying out acts of sabotage and damaging trees, which belong to farmers in the area, as 57 olive trees were cut and vandalize and damaging it completely by cut their branches using electric saws.

It’s mentioning that this attack is considered the second of its kind during a month in the same location. In May,4^th 2025, settlers cut and vandalize 200 olive trees in the same location and with same method, causing a serve damage to farmers who depend on olive trees to save their income.

The table shows the names of affected lands and details:

The affected farmer Wad’i Khaled told to the researcher at LRC as follows:

‘’ I own a piece of land with total area 3 dunams planted with olive and considered a source of olive oil production every year. However, since 7t October, 2023, we have been facing a serious problem: settlers are trying to take control to all lands in the area and preventing us from accessing our lands, as a colonial outpost was established near our lands and preventing us from near to the location of this colonial outpost to collect our olive last year, today most of olive trees were cut from my land and other farmers from Al Mughayyir village, Kherbit Abu Falah and Turmus'ayya, prior that, burning large areas of lands planted with olive trees and wheat for several farmers, as several plots were also burned.’’

He added:

‘’What happens is reflect negative impact on my mental-well being and has caused me great personal harm. These trees are like my own children, and what happened has left a deep sadness in my heart. As I am determined to restore and rebuild the land, no matter the cost.’’

Since the events of 7^th October of 2023, settlers carried out to establish several numbers of outposts in Turmus'ayya town and others in Al-Mughayyir village, which have played a significant role in raising attacks on Palestinian farmers and destroy agricultural fields in several locations.

 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.

   The most notable attacks that Al Mughayyir village has been subjected:

• Demolition a Structure Belongs to Na’san Family and Destruction Agricultural Structure in Al Mughayyir village, East Ramallah.
• The Occupation Demolishes Agricultural Structure and Homes in Al Mughayyir Village East Ramallah.
• Establishment of a New Colonial Outpost on The Lands of Al Mughayyir village, East Ramallah.
• Settlers Establish a New Colonial Outpost on the Lands of Al Mughayyir Village, East Ramallah.
• Settlers Burn Homes’ Citizens and Their Properties in Al Mughayyir Village, North Ramallah.
• Settlers Cattle Their Sheep in Al Qaboon Area East Al Mughayyir Village, Ramallah governorate.
• Settlers of Adi Ad Cut 265 Olive Trees from Al Mughayyir Village/ Ramallah Governorate.

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