IDF revokes permission for Palestinians to plow land near Turmus Ayya after settler disruption

Around 20 Palestinians from the village of Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah, were unable to plow land this morning after their activities were disrupted by settlers, despite having coordinated the agricultural work with Israeli authorities.

The group arrived this morning to plow land in Area C near the village, but extremist settlers arrived on the scene and were documented attempting to chase the Palestinians’ tractors.

Calls had circulated online yesterday urging settlers to come to the site and disrupt the plowing.

The land is privately owned by village residents, but because it is in Area C and located near the settlements of Shvut Rachel and Shilo, the work had been coordinated in advance with Israel’s Civil Administration. In Area C of the West Bank, both security and civilian authority lie with Israel.

According to the Palestinians, Civil Administration officials were present.

However, amid the disturbances, the permission was canceled after a closed military zone order was issued.

The decision to halt the plowing was made by the IDF, not the Civil Administration, in what appeared to be an unusual case of permission being canceled due to the actions of settlers.

The IDF has not responded to a request for comment.

من سهل ترمسعيا الآن حيث تحاول مليشيات المستوطنين منع الأهالي والمزارعين من حراثة أراضيهم pic.twitter.com/topF0EGS4a

— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) May 4, 2026

متابعة| جيش الاحتلال يطرد المزارعين من سهل ترمسعيا شمال رام الله عقب اعتداءات للمستوطنين، ويُعلن المنطقة "عسكرية مغلقة". pic.twitter.com/hONzs0ft7Z

— قناة عودة الفضائية (@AwdehTV) May 4, 2026