BETHLHEM, February 4, 2025 (WAFA) - The Governor of Bethlehem Muhammad Taha Abu Alia said that the Israeli occupation forces committed serious violations during the year 2024, as it bulldozed thousands of dunams, demolished dozens of homes, and uprooted thousands of trees, causing great losses to the governorate.
This came during his meeting with Bethlehem journalists at the governorate building, where he reviewed the reality of Bethlehem in light of the escalation of the occupation's violations, noting that the recorded numbers and statistics reflect the extent of the damage that befell the governorate during the past year.
Abu Alia said that the occupation bulldozed 3,893 dunams of agricultural land, which led to the destruction of large areas of land on which farmers depend for their livelihood.
The occupation forces also uprooted about 6,000 trees, including 3,184 olive trees, which constitute a major source of income for many Palestinian families.
In addition, 126 demolition notices were issued, in the context of a forced displacement policy aimed at restricting the Palestinian population in the governorate.
Abu Alia pointed out that Bethlehem, as the first tourist destination in Palestine, was One of the governorates most affected by the occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip, as the number of tourists declined to less than 200,000 during 2024, which directly affected the economic activity in the governorate.
He explained that the unemployment rate rose to 33%, due to the disruption of the tourism wheel, which led to the loss of many job opportunities, especially in the hotel and tourism services sectors, noting that the expansion of colonialism in the governorate increased the suffering of its residents, as the occupation established 11 new colonial outposts, which led to the seizure of more Palestinian lands and transferring them to the benefit of the colonists.
The colonists also carried out 239 attacks against Palestinian citizens and their property, while the occupation erected 48 iron gates and 27 earthen mounds, with the aim of separating villages and towns from the governorate center, and strengthening the policy of isolation and division.
K.T
