Settlers cut down more than 500 olive trees south of Nablus

Occupied Al-Quds, (ST) – Israeli settlers cut down more than 500 old olive trees today in the village of Qaryut, south of the city of Nablus in the West Bank.

The head of the village council, Yousef al-Hajj Muhammad, told Wafa News Agency that the occupation had prevented the village farmers from entering their lands for two years, and after they were able to enter it today, they were shocked  by the settlers cutting down more than 500 old olive trees, adding that the occupation forces assaulted the farmers, seized their olive picking equipment and forced them to leave their lands.

According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, settlers and occupation forces have carried out 239 attacks against olive pickers since the beginning of the olive picking season this year until the beginning of this month, during which a number of farmers were killed and injured by shooting and olive trees were burned and cut down.

The crop was also stolen and dozens were prevented from reaching their lands.

Raghda Sawas