Palestinian farmers in Hebron confront settler sabotage to protect crops

Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank are engaging in a daily physical and legal battle to protect their livelihoods from escalating sabotage by Israeli settlers, a crisis that has intensified significantly since mid-2024. In the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, residents like 56-year-old farmer Theeba al-Sabaa now spend their days guarding their homes and fields rather than tending to crops. Al-Sabaa, who works the land known locally as Jabal Sabaa, faces constant surveillance and harassment from settlers who have established new outposts on the surrounding hills. These encroachments have effectively blocked access to sections of her property, turning agricultural work into a high-stakes security operation. She described her situation as a test of endurance, stating that she refuses to abandon the land her family has cultivated for generations. Her determination reflects a broader sentiment among local farmers who view their attachment to the soil as a non-negotiable right, despite the increasing physical dangers they face daily.

The tactics used by settlers have grown increasingly aggressive and disruptive, directly threatening the economic survival of Palestinian families. Settlers frequently release their livestock into cultivated fields, deliberately trampling crops and destroying the results of months of hard labor. Al-Sabaa reported that as soon as she or other farmers enter the land, settlers attack them, making plowing and harvesting nearly impossible without risk of injury. This pattern of intimidation extends to neighboring families, such as that of 59-year-old Anwar Sabarneh, who supports a household of fourteen people. Due to repeated violations and threats, two of Sabarneh’s brothers have already been forced to abandon their land entirely. The situation has become so volatile that Sabarneh’s own sheep have remained locked in a barn for over eight months. When his children attempted to retrieve stolen livestock, they were arrested and beaten by Israeli soldiers, illustrating how the violence targets not just the land but the families who depend on it.

Beyond individual acts of sabotage, the restrictions imposed on Palestinian farmers represent a systematic barrier to agricultural life in the region. Sabarneh revealed that the Israeli army now demands permits for Palestinians to work on their own land, even in areas directly adjacent to their homes. He described the absurdity of being asked for permission to tend to vineyards located just 300 meters from his doorstep, land he legally owns. Furthermore, farmers are barred from constructing any necessary infrastructure on their properties, leaving them vulnerable to the elements and unable to protect their assets. This bureaucratic and physical blockade is part of a wider strategy impacting agriculture across the southern West Bank. The cumulative effect is a slow erosion of Palestinian presence and economic viability, as families are pushed out through a combination of violence, legal hurdles, and administrative neglect.

The scale of this conflict is underscored by stark statistics that highlight the severity of the situation for Palestinian communities. According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, settlers and Israeli troops carried out 11,074 attacks in the West Bank during the first half of 2026 alone. Of these incidents, 3,488 were directly carried out by settlers. Hasan Breijieh, a settlement affairs expert and director at the commission, noted that this continuous expansionism and restriction of movement are not isolated incidents but part of a coordinated effort. The data suggests a deliberate campaign to dismantle Palestinian agricultural capabilities, which serves as both an economic lifeline and a cultural anchor for many families. As the number of attacks rises, the ability of farmers like Al-Sabaa and Sabarneh to sustain their livelihoods diminishes, raising urgent questions about the future of Palestinian agriculture and the broader implications for land rights in the occupied territories.