Israeli forces uproot over 400 olive trees in Beit Rima near Ramallah

Israeli forces on Thursday uprooted more than 400 olive trees in the town of Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah, after bulldozing around 31 dunams of land belonging to local residents. The incident occurred just before the olive harvest season and two days after a military order was issued targeting the removal of trees and vegetation in the area.

According to the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA), the military order targeted two areas in Beit Rima of equal size and called for the removal of wild plants and the uprooting of olive and other trees. The move comes as the olive harvest season approaches—a vital source of income for thousands of Palestinian families—causing direct losses to farmers and imposing restrictions on their access to and use of the land.

The Beit Rima incident is part of a series of orders to remove trees and vegetation across the West Bank. Since the beginning of 2026 until September 22, Israeli authorities have issued 51 orders targeting about 2,093 dunams, according to data from the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission. In 2025, the commission recorded 47 orders affecting 1,613 dunams, meaning this year's total has already surpassed last year's before the end of 2026.

These orders impose restrictions on land use, including the removal of trees and crops, and prohibit replanting or access to the land. Israel says the measures are related to security considerations.

Alongside tree removal, home demolitions and the displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank continue. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that more than 3,200 Palestinians were displaced in 2026 due to settler attacks and home demolitions for lack of Israeli building permits, as of July. More than 2,300 people were displaced due to settler violence and related restrictions in the same period.

In northern West Bank, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented the displacement of residents from the Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarm camps, along with the destruction of hundreds of homes, damage to infrastructure, cuts to water and electricity, and prevention of aid deliveries. Residents remain barred from returning.

The UN has also warned of the potential displacement of the Khan al-Ahmar community in the E1 area east of Jerusalem, following Israeli orders to evacuate, alongside plans to build 3,401 settlement units in the area, which would affect 18 Palestinian communities.

On settlement expansion, a June report by the UN Secretary-General said Israeli authorities advanced or approved 4,750 housing units in the West Bank, including 1,460 in Area C. In March, Israel approved 34 settlements in a single decision, described as the largest such move to date.

In August, the UN said Israeli planning authorities advanced or approved about 12,360 housing units in the West Bank during the year, including 7,200 in Area C and 5,160 in East Jerusalem. In July, the Israeli government announced the allocation of around $431 million to support the establishment of 34 new settlements.