Israeli military forces conducted an operation at Birzeit University in the West Bank, during which they removed a memorial dedicated to students and alumni who had been killed during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Following the removal of the structure, soldiers planted a fig sapling in its place.

Al Jazeera reports that the action was perceived by the university community and local observers as a deliberate attempt to erase Palestinian historical memory and suppress symbols of national identity. The report frames the destruction of the monument as part of a broader strategy to diminish Palestinian cultural and political expression within academic spaces.

While the physical act of removing the monument and planting the tree is documented, the military rationale for the specific operation remains unstated in the available reporting. The incident has drawn criticism from those who view the memorial as a significant site of commemoration for the university's community, while the military has not provided a public statement regarding why this specific site was targeted or the significance of the replacement planting.