As settler attacks on Palestinian lands escalate, Palestinian farmer Mr. Iyad Bani Odeh from the village of Atuf has fallen victim to yet another assault. Settlers deliberately set fire to his agricultural land twice, adding to the long list of violations faced by Palestinians. These acts not only demonstrate how the settlers’ openly undermine and discount Palestinian rights but also reflect their persistent efforts to displace farmers from their lands.
Mr. Iyad received a distressing call in July 2024, at 11:00 AM, while attending the Friday prayer in the village mosque, informing him that a huge fire had broken out on his 7 Dunum agricultural land in the Tha’la area near the Baka’ot settlement. Mr. Iyad rushed to the scene, only to find the fire consuming large quantities of straw and hay stored on the land. When he arrived, there was only a woman and her son trying to put out the fire. A man passing by in his car joined them in an attempt to control the blazing fire, but the intensity of the flames prevented them from doing so, causing massive losses to the farmer.
This was not the first time his land had been targeted. Previously, extremist settlers had burned the same plot, which was cultivated with fodder barley. The land, owned by several citizens including Mr. Iyad, has become a repeated target of destruction, leaving him and his family facing substantial losses.
The impact of these arson attacks has been devastating for Mr. Iyad’s family of eight. In the first fire, large amounts of hay and straw were destroyed, leading to financial losses estimated at 5,000 shekels: 3,500 shekels worth of hay and 1,500 shekels worth of straw. The second fire inflicted further losses of 600 shekels, as an additional 400 shekels worth of hay and 200 shekels worth of straw were burned. These losses have drastically affected his ability to feed his flock of 160 sheep, which depend entirely on the crops grown on his land.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Mr. Iyad expressed with grieve:
“Our land is our only source of livelihood. We rely on it to provide hay and straw for our sheep, which is our family’s primary source of income. After the fire, we were forced to purchase fodder at outrageous prices and that has put us in debt and burdened us with further financial struggles, which had a negative impact and serious consequences on our living conditions.”
Despite knowing the risks of further attacks on his land and source of livelihood, Mr. Iyad, like many other Palestinian farmers near him and at other areas classified C in the West Bank, finds himself with no choice and no alternative but to cultivate his land again.
The Land after it had beencultivated again
The repeated assaults are not merely about financial losses; they are part of a larger systematic campaign led by the Israeli authorities, aimed at displacing and uprooting Palestinian families off their land in order to seize it.
Prepared as part of the project:
“Mapping and Diagnosing Palestinian Rural Women’s Livelihood and Economic Empowerment in Area “C”
Implemented by: The Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem (ARIJ)
Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
Attempting to cultivate the land again
Beyond the immediate economic losses, the impact of the attacks on Mr. Iyad’s family, particularly its women, has been overwhelming. With six females among his eight family members, the financial strain has made it increasingly difficult to provide for even their most basic needs. In light of the high costs of production and economic instability, these targeted attacks serve as a cruel mechanism of oppression, further pushing Palestinian families into deeper financial distress.
Mr. Iyad’s ordeal is utterly a blunt example of the ongoing struggle faced by Palestinian farmers, whose resilience remains their only defense against displacement and economic destruction.
About Atuf,
Atuf is located east of Tubas city, approximately 12 kilometers away. It is bordered by the Israeli settlement of Beka’ot to the east, the village of Yarza to the north, the town of Tamoun to the west, and the village of Nasariya to the south. The current population is estimated at 1,300 residents, with women making up approximately 46% and men 54% of the total population.
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