Palestinian shepherding communities in the occupied West Bank say escalating settler activity is forcing many families to abandon their homes and traditional grazing lands.
Residents of Khirbet Yarza in the Jordan Valley said that years of attacks on farmland, livestock and property have made life increasingly difficult. According to local residents, repeated incidents involving settlers damaged crops, targeted shepherds and contributed to the departure of several families from the area earlier this year. Former residents said the move has created new hardships, including overcrowded grazing areas and livestock losses. Many families rely heavily on herding and agriculture as their primary source of income.
Similar concerns have been reported in other parts of the West Bank. Farmers and livestock owners described incidents involving the theft of animals, restrictions on access to grazing land and damage to agricultural resources. Community leaders in areas such as Masafer Yatta said the amount of land available for farming and grazing has steadily decreased in recent years. A recent report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted a significant rise in incidents causing injuries or property damage in the Jordan Valley compared with previous years. Aid agencies have warned that continued disruptions to farming and herding threaten the livelihoods of thousands of Palestinian families who depend on agriculture for their survival.
