BETHLEHEM, January 27, 2026 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces uprooted hundreds of olive trees and issued stop-work orders for 20 homes in the town of Tuqu', southeast of Bethlehem, on Tuesday.

Tuqu' Mayor Muhammad al-Badan told WAFA that an Israeli army force, accompanied by military vehicles, positioned itself along the western entrance to the town and began uprooting hundreds of olive trees along a stretch of approximately 1,500 meters and to a depth of nearly 8 meters, under the pretext of so-called "security reasons."

He added that the occupation forces stormed the al-Halqum neighborhood west of the town and delivered stop-work orders to the owners of 20 homes, even though these homes have been standing for years and are inhabited. He pointed out that these orders are part of a policy of restricting residents and preventing them from expanding or building in the future, as they are forced to appeal to Israeli courts.

Al-Badan explained that about 70% of the lands of the town of Tuqu’ are classified as Area C, and that the occupation continues to tighten its measures against the residents by closing roads with iron gates, seizing large areas of land, and preventing construction and urban expansion in them, even though they are private lands owned by citizens.

K.T