Settler Violence Surges in West Bank, Jerusalem; Olive Trees Destroyed

Settler and Israeli forces' attacks escalated across the West Bank and Jerusalem on Sunday, targeting Palestinians, their property, vehicles, and agricultural lands. Incidents included stone-throwing at cars, uprooting olive trees, damaging crops, and harassing shepherds, with livestock also seized. In the town of Nil'in, west of Ramallah, settlers reportedly stormed agricultural areas in the "Al-Khalal" region, destroying and uprooting dozens of mature and young olive trees. Palestinian farmers stated that settlers attacked their lands, breaking and uprooting trees and saplings, noting that "Al-Khalal" has been a target of similar attacks previously. In the Nablus governorate, settler groups attacked Palestinians, shepherds, and farmers in southern areas, injuring two young men. Near Salfit, settlers attacked residents of the town of Luban al-Sharqiya, resulting in two moderate injuries, one from a head injury by a stone and another from a stab wound to the thigh, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. The organization provided first aid and transported the injured to Salfit Government Hospital. Armed settlers also attacked residents and property in the Luban al-Sharqiya and Wadi al-Sha'er areas, amid rising attacks on farmlands and farmers. In Hebron, dozens of settlers, under heavy Israeli military protection, conducted provocative marches in the Old City, chanting racist slogans and assaulting Palestinian businesses, while restricting residents' movement. These attacks coincide with a broader surge in violence against Palestinians, their lands, and property in the West Bank, including tree uprooting, land plowing, fencing, and grazing livestock, which Palestinians claim aims to establish new settlement realities and expand settler influence. The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission documented 2,030 attacks by Israeli forces and settlers in August, with settlers responsible for 628 of these incidents.