Palestinian residents reported that Israeli settlers attacked farmland in the town of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah, on Thursday evening, setting agricultural land ablaze in what locals described as a coordinated assault on privately owned property.

According to local sources, groups of settlers entered Palestinian farmland under the protection of Israeli occupation forces and deliberately ignited fires, causing flames to spread across wide areas of cultivated land.

Residents said the fires damaged agricultural fields and threatened nearby homes before efforts were made to contain the blaze.

Witnesses added that Israeli occupation forces (IOF) used live ammunition against Palestinians who attempted to approach the area to confront the settlers and prevent further damage. No injuries were immediately reported.

The incident has added to growing tensions in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians say settler attacks and military operations have intensified in recent years.

Since October 8, 2023, Palestinian authorities report that Israeli military operations and settler violence across the West Bank have resulted in 1,171 Palestinians killed, 12,666 injured, and around 23,000 arrests.

They also estimate that approximately 33,000 Palestinians have been displaced during the same period, as raids, demolitions, and settler attacks continue across multiple governorates.

Human rights observers and local residents say that attacks on farmland have become increasingly frequent, raising concerns over the destruction of agricultural livelihoods in rural communities.

In Turmus Ayya and surrounding villages, farmers have repeatedly reported damage to olive groves and cultivated land, which they say are vital to the local economy. (ILKHA)