Israeli occupation forces, in coordination with groups of settlers, continue to implement a policy of systematic land seizure in the occupied West Bank, aiming to alter the geographic and demographic landscape by force.
Earlier today, Israeli military bulldozers, escorted by groups of settlers, stormed the village of Qusra, southeast of Nablus, and began bulldozing large swathes of agricultural land in the Ras Al-Ain area. Local sources reported that dozens of settlers were deployed around Palestinian homes simultaneously with the bulldozing operations, reflecting a deliberate escalation targeting both residential and agricultural areas.
This attack is part of a broader, systematic policy pursued by the Israeli authorities and settlers to impose new facts on the ground, by gradually seizing lands adjacent to illegal settlements and forcing Palestinian farmers off their properties through repeated assaults and intimidation.
The tools of this policy include:
– Bulldozing agricultural lands
– Uprooting olive and almond trees
– Physical assaults on farmers and shepherds
– Preventing Palestinian urban expansion
– Establishing new settlement outposts under the protection of the Israeli army
These practices constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the destruction of private property and the transfer of the occupier’s civilian population into occupied territories.
Moreover, such actions blatantly defy United Nations resolutions, especially UN Security Council Resolution 2334 of 2016, which affirmed that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law.
The village of Qusra and its surroundings have long been targeted by settler violence, including the uprooting of hundreds of olive and almond trees, the destruction of agricultural infrastructure, and repeated attacks against residents. These actions pose an existential threat to small Palestinian communities, increasingly subjected to forcible transfer through organized settler violence under the protection of Israeli military forces.
This escalation persists amidst a backdrop of international silence and inaction, reinforcing a climate of impunity and encouraging further violations against Palestinian civilians and their land.
Field reports confirm that these settlement expansion policies represent a serious breach of international law, necessitating urgent international action that goes beyond expressions of concern or condemnation. There is a pressing need for practical measures to halt land seizure operations, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure effective protection for Palestinian communities under threat.
The ongoing practices in Qusra and similar areas put the international community, particularly the United Nations, before a crucial test of its commitment to enforce international law and safeguard fundamental human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.
