Israeli forces have begun extensive bulldozing of Palestinian-owned agricultural land southeast of Bethlehem, according to the Al-Baydar Organisation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation said the operations are taking place along the main road extending from the Gush Etzion area through the towns of Tuqu’ and Al-Maniya to the village of Kisan.
The group said the bulldozing is being carried out under the pretext of widening the road, but has directly damaged Palestinian agricultural land on both sides of the route.
According to Al-Baydar, the works form part of ongoing measures that alter realities on the ground through the gradual seizure of farmland under infrastructure-related justifications, affecting agricultural property and land use in the area.
The organisation warned that the continuation of such policies threatens the livelihoods of Palestinian families in the targeted communities, particularly those dependent on farming as a primary source of income, and could worsen economic and living conditions.
READ: Israel approves $270M budget for settlement roads in occupied West Bank
