Livestock theft in Jordan Valley adds pressure on Palestinian herders

The Palestinian Jordan Valley has seen a noticeable rise in attacks targeting Palestinian herders and their livelihoods in recent years, particularly through the theft of livestock.

The Jordan Valley is one of the most important agricultural and grazing areas in the occupied West Bank. Many residents of Bedouin communities and small villages depend on raising sheep and cattle as their main source of income.

As a result, targeting this livestock is not only a financial loss but also undermines the foundations of daily life and the economic stability of families in the area.

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Aref Daraghmeh, an activist who monitors settlement-related activities, said incidents of livestock theft have been reported in several parts of the Jordan Valley, especially in communities close to open grazing land or near settlement outposts.

Daraghmeh added that these incidents are often accompanied by other practices, including the pursuit of herders, preventing them from accessing natural grazing areas, and damaging animal pens and water sources.

In many cases, herders face a difficult reality, where taking sheep out to graze has become a daily risk.

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