Israeli Occupation destroys over 75% of olive trees in Gaza

A recent report reveals that over 75 percent of olive trees in Gaza have been destroyed as a result of the ongoing Israeli Occupation military campaign, Anadolu Agency reported.

The findings, published by the National Office for the Defense of Land and Resistance to Settlement, which operates under the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), highlighted the severe impact of the Israeli Occupation bombardment on the region's vital olive sector.

Due to the Israeli Occupation's relentless air and ground assaults in Gaza, residents have had limited opportunities to tend to their fields, with access only during a brief ceasefire last November that lasted just one week. This temporary pause allowed some farmers to harvest olives from areas that had yet to be targeted for destruction.

In the occupied West Bank, the situation is similarly dire. "Israeli" authorities revoked all permits for olive picking, effectively barring farmers from accessing their lands.

Additionally, illegal settlers employed various violent tactics to obstruct Palestinians from harvesting olives, further exacerbating the challenges faced by local communities.

The report estimates that approximately 23,700 acres of olive groves in the occupied West Bank have been designated as closed military zones by Israeli Occupation Forces.

It is worth mentioning that olive trees are slow-growing plants. The tree can take between three to seven years to bear fruit, depending on the variety. Full maturity is typically reached after 10 years, meaning the loss of these trees represents a long-term agricultural setback for the region.

The olive tree holds significant cultural and agricultural importance in Palestine, symbolizing the deep-rooted connection of the Palestinian people to their land, cultivated for thousands of years.