The al-Khatib family grows cucumbers on seven dunams of land [1 dunam = 1,000 sq. meters]. They intended to sell their produce ahead of the upcoming Ramadan holiday, but settlers in the area had other plans. On Saturday, 11 March 2020, three settlers decided to run amok in the field with motorcycles and an ATV, and systematically destroyed the cucumbers. A farmer from the village of ‘Ein Qiniya noticed what was happening and called Iyad al-Khatib and other residents. By the time everyone arrived, the settlers had managed to destroy more than half of the produce.
Six residents managed to drive the invaders away towards the settlement of Talmon and reported the incident to the Palestinian DCO. When a military force arrived about half an hour later, the soldiers fired stun grenades and tear-gas canisters at the residents and directed the settlers to the settlement of Dolev. The settlement, which lies about 800 meters from the al-Khatib family’s land, was founded in 1983.
The cucumber field was sown in early March, as it is every year. The livelihood of the entire extended family, 24 persons, depends on selling the produce at the market in Ramallah.
Iyad al-Khatib described the anguish and heartbreak caused by the incident to B’Tselem field researcher Iyad Hadad:
When I saw the settlers driving back and forth across our fields as if they were playing a game, I went mad. They destroyed this season’s crop, now of all times, when everyone is in lockdown and nothing is open. Our financial situation is tough as is, and these settlers destroyed the little hope we had left.
We lost close to 10,000 shekels (~2,811 USD) that we spent on seeds and fertilizer. Not to mention the hard work and daily care the soil requires. We’re now plowing the land again to sow new seeds, and we pray to God to keep away the settlers. We’ve suffered enough.