BETHLEHEM, Thursday, May 16, 2024 (WAFA) - Israeli occupation soldiers Thursday morning attacked a number of farmers south of Bethlehem.

Jaafar Assi, a 55-year-old farmer, said that an occupation army force attacked him and a number of farmers while they were working on their land of 1,500 dunums, planted with vine trees, in  Wadi al-Diyar area, adjacent to the illegal colony of Efrat, located on the lands of the town of al-Khader.

He added that the occupation threatened them with arrest and seizure of vehicles and agricultural equipment if they returned to working on their land, noting that this is the third time they have been subjected to attacks by occupation soldiers during the grape season this year.

Assi pointed out that these lands constitute about 80% of Al-Khader’s agricultural lands, stressing that the Israeli authorities are trying to empty the lands from farmers, taking advantage of the world’s preoccupation with the aggression against the Gaza Strip.

K.T