Israeli military personnel were present as heavy machinery razed agricultural land and removed ancient olive trees in a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank earlier this month.
Destruction in Karyut Village
The incident occurred in the village of Karyut on 8 December 2025. Photographic evidence shows Israeli soldiers standing by while construction vehicles operated, clearing terrain that includes groves of olive trees believed to be hundreds of years old.
Local Palestinian farmers have stated that the land clearing is not an isolated event. They report that hundreds of acres in the area are being targeted as part of a plan to establish a new Israeli settlement project.
A Pattern of Settlement Expansion
This event follows the recent Israeli authorisation of 19 new Jewish settlements, a move reported in late December. The acceleration of construction in occupied territories has drawn sharp criticism for contravening international law.
Palestinian residents, including Christians, have described their living conditions under occupation as akin to being in "a small prison inside a larger one," highlighting the severe restrictions on movement and land use.
International Law and Calls for Action
The systematic expansion of settlements is widely considered illegal under international law. Observers and human rights groups argue that such actions undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state.
In correspondence to The Guardian, commentator Rev David Haslam from Evesham questioned the international response, asking when the community would wake up to the need for serious sanctions to halt Israel's "brazen flouting" of legal norms.
The ongoing conversion of agricultural land for settlements not only displaces communities but also severs a deep cultural and economic connection for Palestinian families, for whom olive groves represent both livelihood and heritage.
