Systematic looting.. Settlers steal thousands of livestock from Palestinians under the protection of the occupation

The theft of sheep, cattle, and Palestinian property in the West Bank has transformed from individual incidents into a widespread and organized phenomenon enjoying direct protection from the Israeli occupation army. Video clips and human rights reports document the integration of roles between settlers and the army in targeting Palestinian communities, with the aim of undermining farmers' livelihoods and forcing them to leave their lands.

According to data obtained by sources from the human rights organization 'Al-Baydar', more than 12,000 head of livestock were stolen in 2025, while about 1,500 more were stolen from the beginning of 2026 until now. These figures reflect the scale of the economic catastrophe facing Palestinian farmers who find themselves alone in confronting armed gangs.

In the village of Ein Yabroud, northeast of Ramallah, citizen Muhammad Hujeir recounts bitter suffering, as settlers stole three horses from him in just one year. Hujeir confirmed that his attempts to recover his horses failed, and he was even subjected to severe physical assault by 14 settlers who attacked his home under the gaze of the occupation forces.

Hujeir explained that the financial losses he incurred due to the theft of his horses amounted to about 50,000 shekels, noting that the army closed the village entrances during the attack to prevent any assistance from reaching the residents. He described the situation in the village as tragic, where sheep thefts are repeated daily and affect dozens of heads from various families.

In another testimony, citizen Salim Turki Hamayel recounted the details of the raid on his farm last Monday dawn, where settlers stole an entire flock consisting of 74 head of the finest sheep. Hamayel estimated his loss at between 50,000 to 60,000 dollars, confirming that the settlers used tools to cut the fence and destroy surveillance cameras.

His wife, Umm Abdullah, confirmed that this flock was the family's sole source of income, and with its loss, the family is now without financial income. This situation embodies the reality of hundreds of Palestinian families who rely entirely on animal production for their daily livelihood and face the risk of extreme poverty due to these thefts.

In a related context, activist Kazem Al-Hajj Muhammad indicated that settler attacks in the areas northeast of Ramallah have become daily and organized. He explained that the aim of firing bullets and intimidating farmers is to entrench the policy of 'pastoral settlement' which aims to control the largest possible area of open Palestinian land.

For his part, Ghassan Abu Alia, head of Al-Mughayyir Agricultural Association, revealed the establishment of a new settlement outpost near the village lands that has gradually begun to encroach on agricultural areas. He confirmed that the occupation army directly intervenes by firing gas bombs and bullets to secure the sabotage operations carried out by settlers against the association's workers and farmers.

Statistics indicate that the occupation has already seized more than 45,000 dunams in the Al-Mughayyir area alone, while it continues to pursue citizens in the remaining areas. These continuous pressures aim to bring Palestinian farmers to a state of despair, which facilitates the process of evacuating the land for settlement expansion.

On the political level, Salah Al-Khawaja, director of the Central Directorate in the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, revealed an unprecedented settlement leap. The Israeli 'Cabinet' secretly approved the construction of 34 new settlements, raising the total number of approved settlements under the current government to 103 settlements.

Al-Khawaja explained that these approvals are equivalent to about 70% of the total settlements built since 1967 until 2022, indicating a frantic acceleration in annexation operations. This plan aims to connect major settlements to each other, and create a settlement fence that completely isolates Palestinian villages from their surroundings.

Al-Khawaja warned of the 'Greater Jerusalem' project, which seeks to isolate the areas of Sawahra, Abu Dis, and Al-Eizariya from the north and south of the West Bank. This approach will turn Palestinian areas into isolated and besieged 'cantons', eliminating any possibility of geographical connection between Palestinian cities and towns.

Going back in history, Al-Khawaja believes that what is happening today is a development of the 'Ayalon' project that was proposed after the 1967 setback to divide the occupied territories. While the project aimed to divide the West Bank into 7 states, the occupation today seeks to turn it into 176 small cantons surrounded by settlements from all sides.

Despite this harsh reality, Palestinian farmers emphasize the option of steadfastness and remaining on their lands, no matter the sacrifices. Farmers sent messages calling on the Palestinian people not to give up their land and to confront the policies of forced displacement led by settlers with official support from the occupation government.

The thefts are no longer individual incidents, but an organized phenomenon protected by the army aimed at driving farmers to despair and abandoning their lands.