LONDON: Israeli forces issued two military orders on Thursday to uproot olive trees and confiscate land in the eastern part of the Palestinian city of Qalqilya, located in the northern occupied West Bank.
The initial order requires the removal of olive trees in the eastern section of Qalqilya city, spanning about 1.97 acres. The second order modifies a previous military directive that authorized the confiscation of 0.56 acres, increasing it to 1.26 acres, which is more than double the initial area.
The lands impacted by the new amendment belong to the Khalif and Radwan families from the nearby town of Azzun, located east of Qalqilya, as well as to the Abu Hamed family from the city itself, according to Wafa news agency.
Wafa reported that the confiscation of these plots is for the construction of a fence.
In October, Israeli authorities approved the expansion of the Mitzpe Yeshai settlement and confiscated 9 acres of land from the Palestinian village of Kafr Qaddum, which is located east of Qalqilya.
Thousands of Palestinian families who depend on harvesting olive trees for their livelihoods have faced increasing attacks since late 2023 from settlers, entry restrictions to their fields imposed by soldiers, and land confiscation policy.
