RAMALLAH, June 21, 2026 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture confirmed on Sunday that no cases of watermelon virus have been recorded in agricultural fields in Palestine.

Speaking to WAFA, Mahmoud Fatafta, the ministry's spokesman, said plant diseases do not transmit to humans regardless of their type, and therefore pose no threat to public health or consumers, urging citizens to remain reassured.

His remarks came after Israeli media reported in recent days that watermelon crops in several areas inside Israel had been affected by a virus, prompting the Israeli Agriculture Ministry, in cooperation with relevant teams and insurance companies, to destroy around 1,000 dunums of affected crops.

Fatafta explained that the spread of the virus has increased in Israel this year by five to six times due to the spread of whiteflies and aphids, which contribute to higher infection rates, in addition to heavy rainfall and temperature fluctuations.

He said watermelon imports into Palestinian markets are not carried out regularly, but only when needed to cover shortages in local production, and are subject to specific monitoring regulations and conditions imposed by the ministry before allowing the product to enter markets.

He noted that some agricultural products may occasionally enter through smuggling channels outside official procedures, stressing that security and monitoring authorities follow up on such cases and take necessary measures against violators.

The Ministry of Agriculture called on farmers to continue monitoring their fields, carry out necessary spraying operations, and maintain communication with ministry teams for technical guidance. 

It also advised farmers to avoid approaching infected watermelon fields or using the same agricultural tools, including scissors, plows, and transport equipment, during spraying, plowing, or harvesting operations to prevent the virus from spreading between fields.

M.N