On the morning of 18th August, as temperatures hit 43 degrees in the northern Jordan Valley, occupation forces started a wave of attacks on local Palestinian farming communities.

In Bardala, an Area B village, they destroyed 120 olive trees belonging to Khalid Rushdi. This follows previous attacks on Mr Rushdi, whose home has been demolished twice in the last 3 years. The occupation is using the pretext that the trees are on land designated as Area C. Their intention is clearly to stop Palestinians from farming their land.

In Al Bakayaa, in the area of ‘Atuf and Ras al Ahmar, they brought in diggers to destroy an agricultural road used by local farmers.

JVS activists have also seen tens of military tanks amassing around the area of Al Farisiya. From experience we know that they are preparing to carry out yet more military training, right amongst the local communities. We are concerned that they will cause damage to local families and livestock as they carry out their training directly around the farms and homes of Palestinian communities, often forcing them to evacuate their homes.

As they move their tanks and heavy machinery across the land and carry out training with live ammunition they also pose a serious threat to the wildlife and the local ecosystem.