'Livestock' War.. Settlers Cut Off the Second Lifeline for Palestinian Farmers

The effects of the heinous crime committed by extremist settlers in the town of As-Samu' south of Hebron are still vivid in the minds of the residents. An incendiary substance thrown inside farmer Khalil Abu Ghannam's barn caused 75 goats to be burned to death. This incident, documented by surveillance cameras, was not just a fleeting assault, but reflects a policy of intimidation aimed at striking the backbone of the Palestinian rural economy.

The town of As-Samu', home to about 26,000 people, relies primarily on agriculture and livestock farming as its sole source of income. Experts believe that targeting animals ranks second in terms of danger after land confiscation, as it leads to forced economic and social transformations that push farmers towards displacement and the loss of their means of steadfastness.

Local sources reported that the material losses resulting from the burning of Abu Ghannam's barn exceeded 200,000 shekels, as part of what is known as the 'price tag' policy. The settlers were not content with the crime; they also issued direct threats to the farmer by phone, asserting that future attacks would be more violent and destructive to his property.

In a related context, Khirbet al-Tawil, southeast of Nablus, witnessed another type of assault, where groups of settlers used four-wheel-drive vehicles to deliberately run over flocks of sheep. Activists documented settlers driving their vehicles through the flock, resulting in the death and injury of several sheep under the vehicle wheels.

In recent times, livestock theft has transformed from individual incidents into an organized phenomenon enjoying full protection from the Israeli occupation army. Human rights reports, including data from the 'B'Tselem' organization, confirm that these operations occur in plain sight and broad daylight, and farmers' complaints are often ignored by the Israeli police.

Data from the human rights organization 'Al-Baydar' indicates shocking figures, with settlers stealing more than 12,000 head of livestock last year. With the beginning of 2026, the upward trend continued, recording the theft of approximately 1,500 additional head, threatening the collapse of the livestock sector in Bedouin and rural communities.

Abbas Melhem, head of the Farmers' Associations Union, affirmed that what is happening is a 'systematic torment' operation aimed at uprooting the farmer from his land. He explained that depriving a farmer of his animals means destroying his second source of livelihood, turning his life into hell and stripping him of the means to survive in areas targeted by settlement.

Melhem revealed a sharp decline in the number of livestock in Palestine, which decreased from 1.75 million sheep to only about 480,000 head. This decline, estimated at about 72%, represents a direct threat to Palestinian food security, especially in the meat and dairy sectors, which previously achieved self-sufficiency.

Settler groups exploit the vacuum left by displaced Palestinian farmers to begin their own livestock farming operations, using stolen or government-supported purchased animals. Observers warn that the continuation of this approach may force Palestinians in the future to buy their sacrificial animals from settlers who have seized their pastures and animals.

The current right-wing government implements a policy of silent annexation by entrusting field tasks to armed settlers who practice 'law enforcement' in a gang-like manner. These groups often enjoy authority that exceeds that of the army in the field, facilitating silent ethnic cleansing operations in 'Area C' classified areas.

The techniques used by settlers to displace farming families vary, from night attacks aimed at intimidation to sabotaging irrigation networks and stealing fodder. These repeated assaults make it impossible to continue in the livestock farming profession in the absence of international and local protection.

The settlements of 'Asa'el' and 'Shama' are among the most prominent hotspots from which attacks are launched against the residents of As-Samu' town and neighboring villages. The geographical proximity to these settlement blocs poses a constant danger to farmers who find themselves trapped between the hammer of settler attacks and the anvil of military restrictions.

Activists believe that documenting these crimes on video is no longer sufficient to deter settlers who appear with uncovered faces without fear of prosecution. The occupation's legal system provides full cover for thieves, and victims are often informed that their stolen property 'does not belong to them' when attempting to legally reclaim it.

Targeting livestock represents a new chapter in the conflict over land, as the occupation seeks to empty pastoral areas of their original owners. The Palestinian farmer remains alone in confronting a destructive machine that targets all aspects of his life, from olive trees to flocks of sheep.

Targeting livestock resources is like cutting off the Palestinian farmer's second hand after targeting the land.