Israeli soldiers open fire towards Palestinian farmers in Gaza

Israeli forces on Tuesday opened fire towards a group of Palestinian farmers close to a fence separating besieged Gaza from Israel.

Israeli soldiers forced the farmers to leave their lands in the eastern part of Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, sources told The New Arab.

Mohammed Baraka, who owns a nine-dunum farm (two acres) close to the Israel border, told The New Arab that Israeli forces regularly open fire when farmers attempt to plant new crops.

Baraka said he is rarely able to plant and harvest his crops, which lies just a few hundred metres from Israeli towns, due to the military activities.

The Hamas-run agriculture ministry told The New Arab that the Israeli army has carried out 206 incursions and bulldozing operations against Palestinian agricultural land in Gaza.

Such activities lead to crops being destroyed, causing further hardships for Palestinians in the besieged enclave.

"These violations are represented by the advance of Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers towards the citizens' lands, the leveling of these lands, and the uprooting of crops," a spokesperson said.

The ministry said that agricultural lands affected by bulldozing operations between 2018 to 2020 amounted to 1,035 dunams (256 acres), causing almost $1,200,000 in material damage.

Gaza has been under siege by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took over the territory in 2007.

The blockade has led to acute shortages of basic goods and essential medical supplies although Egypt occasionally opens the Rafah border crossing for Palestinians and supplies.