«Israeli» Drones Poisoning Palestinian Crops

Local Editor

"Israeli" drones had sprayed weed killers and pesticides on Palestinian crops in the eastern parts of the Gaza Strip.

According to Palestinian farmers on Tuesday, melon, watermelon, okra, and wheat fields close to "Israeli" checkpoints were sprayed with "poisonous pesticides" and weed killers.

Local farmers had said that "Israeli" troops spray weed killers to dry wild plants around security fences in order to have clear vision to watch the area, but they usually spray dozens of meters around their targeted areas, killing and damaging Palestinian crops.

In January, a similar incident occurred in Khan Yunis where "Israeli" forces sprayed weed killers on crops and burnt them.

A Gaza Ministry of Agriculture authority, Wael Thabet, said that the ministry had on multiple occasions called on rights groups to intervene and halt the "Israeli" entity's actions, adding that the "Israelis" "didn't respond positively and claimed that the process is meant to get rid of wild plants and weeds."

He noted that around 30 percent of the besieged Gaza Strip's agricultural space is located in areas which are sprayed by Israeli forces.

The Gaza Strip had been under an "Israeli" siege since 2007. The blockade had led to a dramatic decline in the standards of living as well as substantial levels of unemployment and poverty.

Separately, "Israeli" group B'Tselem had censured "Israeli" authorities for their encouragement of the shoot-to-kill policy.

The NGO made the announcement after "Israeli" soldiers killed a Palestinian woman in al-Quds [Jerusalem]. On Friday, "Israeli" forces shot and killed a 49-year-old Palestinian woman, Siham Ratib Nimr, after an alleged stabbing operation in East al-Quds.

According to the group, Nimr had been approaching a police barrier near Damascus Gate with a pair of scissors when "Israeli" forces shot and killed her.

"It is quite doubtful whether Siham could have, in the circumstances, crossed the barrier, proceeded toward the officers and put them in danger," said B'Tselem.

Over the past months, "Israeli" forces had fatally shot many Palestinians in the occupied territories, claiming they sought to attack the "Israelis".

In January, Human Rights Watch [HRW] voiced its deep concern over the increasing number of "Israeli" officials encouraging troops to kill Palestinians even when they are not a threat.

Over 287 Palestinians had been martyred by "Israeli" troops since a fresh wave of violence flared up in the occupied territories in October 2015.

Source: Press TV, Edited by website team