"Environmental Quality": The occupation and its settlers continue their environmental violations in Qalqilya last July

SadaNews - The Environmental Quality Authority documented a series of Israeli environmental violations in the Qalqilya Governorate during the month of July. These violations included the smuggling of solid and hazardous waste from the lands of 1948, the demolition of agricultural structures and yards owned by citizens, and the uprooting of trees in several villages and towns in the governorate, posing a danger to the Palestinian environment and natural resources.

The Environmental Quality Authority reported in its statement today, Sunday, that the affected sectors included solid and liquid waste, agriculture, and biodiversity, in addition to the water and sewage sectors, indicating that the violations caused direct environmental and economic losses.

These violations were geographically concentrated throughout the governorate, affecting villages and towns such as Kafr Qaddum (including the Mount Muhammad area), Azzun, Kfar Laqif, Jit, and Al-Funduq, and also recorded violations in the city. The majority of violations occurred in areas classified as "C" and located outside the structural plan, with violations also recorded in areas classified as "B" that fall within the structural plan.

The report indicated that the environmental damage caused by these violations included soil contamination with toxic materials, the emission of harmful gases due to the burning or random burial of tires, destruction of agricultural infrastructure, reduction of vegetation cover, in addition to threatening the health of citizens and groundwater sources.

The report mentioned that on July 14, an Israeli truck loaded with 50 used and damaged car tires was intercepted on its way to be smuggled into Qalqilya, and it was returned to its origin in coordination with the Customs Control Authority.

Israeli forces also demolished an agricultural room in the town of Kafr Qaddum, located on land classified as "C", and destroyed a concrete yard of 150 square meters in the town of Al-Funduq, southwest of Qalqilya, belonging to citizens, causing damage to agricultural infrastructure and reducing productive areas.

The report documented other violations including the uprooting and breaking of dozens of trees, including olive, almond, and apple trees, damaging irrigation networks, and creating colonial roads in private lands, in addition to contaminating water sources and springs due to the dumping of domestic and industrial wastewater from the settlements.

These violations represent a systematic pattern targeting agricultural lands and open spaces, especially in areas that lack effective protection, undermining the ability of citizens to preserve their lands and properties, particularly in areas classified as "C".

Such violations constitute a breach of international humanitarian law and international agreements aimed at protecting the environment, representing part of a systematic policy to undermine the Palestinian presence.