Rashi, Deuteronomy 20:19
כי האדם עץ השדה. הרי כי משמש בלשון דילמא שמא האדם עץ השדה להכנס בתוך המצור מפניך להתיסר ביסורי רעב וצמא כאנשי העיר למה תשחיתנו:
See now, that the word ‘Ki’ functions here in the sense of “perhaps”: Is the tree of the field perhaps a man that it should be included in the besieged town because of you, to suffer the tribulations of hunger and thirst like the people of the city? Why should you destroy it? (Translation by Artscroll)

Suggested Discussion Questions:

According to this verse, why do trees deserve protection?

Time Period: Medieval (Geonim through the 16th Century)