Footage said to have been recorded near the village of al-Mughayyir in the West Bank shows a masked person giving an unknown substance to animals, which later die. The footage also suggests that Israeli soldiers were present in the area during the incident.
It was alleged that the animals belonged to Israelis who seized Palestinian land and live in an illegal Jewish settlement near the village. The footage also prompted claims that the incident had been staged to blame Palestinians and create grounds for new attacks against Palestinians or their property.
Video published by Yered revives accusations
The publication by Israeli settler Elisha Yered, who seized Palestinian land, of a video showing numerous dead animals has reignited debate surrounding the footage. Internet users alleged that the video was intended to portray Palestinians as responsible for the animals’ deaths.
Palestinian sources said that this method has been used to create grounds for raids and attacks against Palestinians. Some Israeli internet users, however, expressed skepticism about the videos and the accusations directed at Palestinians, arguing that the footage and allegations did not reflect reality.
An Israel-based news website claimed that approximately 19 cases involving the poisoning of animals belonging to Israelis who seized Palestinian land had been recorded in different parts of the West Bank since the beginning of the year, and that the Israeli army was pursuing those responsible. The Israeli army and police have issued no official statement on the matter.
Footage circulated during the olive harvest
The footage of the animal deaths emerged during the olive harvest, an important source of livelihood for Palestinian farmers in the West Bank. The harvest, which began at the start of October, is considered one of the main sources of income for thousands of Palestinian families.
According to data from the Committee Against the Separation Wall and Jewish Settlements, affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Organization, more than 45,000 trees, including over 26,000 olive trees, were cut down or damaged in the West Bank during the first half of 2026.
According to official Palestinian data, more than 750,000 Israelis live in 194 Jewish settlements and approximately 400 illegal Jewish settlement outposts in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
