On July 31, 2025 Israeli forces bulldozed the seed‑multiplication unit of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) in Hebron. The organisation said the attack came without warning and machines reduced tools and buildings to ruins.
The unit was built from 2010 and was the only seed bank in the West Bank. UAWC said it safeguarded over 70 varieties of indigenous heirloom seeds, and many of those varieties no longer exist elsewhere in Palestine, according to UAWC's director general.
The organisation called the loss a direct blow to efforts to protect local biodiversity and food sovereignty, and a video of the damage was shared on Facebook.
Difficult words
- bulldoze — to destroy buildings or land with machinesbulldozed
- seed bank — place that stores seeds for future use
- indigenous — original people or things from a place
- heirloom — old plant variety kept by farmers for many yearsheirloom seeds
- biodiversity — different types of living things in an area
- food sovereignty — local control over food and farming decisions
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why did the organisation say the loss was a direct blow?
- Do you think local communities should save old seed varieties? Why or why not?
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