Israeli Bulldozers Smash Palestinian Olive Trees Ahead of Annual Harvest
September 23, 2026 | Source: Reuters
DEIR NIZAM, West Bank, Sept 23 (Reuters) – Palestinian villagers wailed over the mangled remains of their olive trees on Wednesday after Israel’s military uprooted them with bulldozers, days ahead of the annual olive harvest, normally a source of joy for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Abd Alfattah Tamimi, who owns an olive grove on village land near Ramallah city, watched as a military bulldozer smashed the top of one of his trees and then tore its roots from the ground.
“All our olive trees, including the newly planted ones, were uprooted. Also our neighbours’, they uprooted them all,” Tamimi said, adding that he and his neighbours own nearly 9 acres of land filled with olive trees.
“They left us with nothing,” he said.
Israel’s military said it was checking Reuters’ request for comment but had not responded by Wednesday evening.