West Bank Agriculture Suffers Escalating Losses Ahead of Olive Harvest

A report citing Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth highlights significant and escalating damage to Palestinian agriculture in the West Bank, extending beyond the olive sector to livestock, grapes, and seasonal crops. The report attributes these losses partly to the expansion of Israeli settlements and outposts, which are increasingly controlling agricultural and pastoral lands.

Data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated over 10 million olive trees in the West Bank in 2019, supporting approximately 100,000 Palestinian families. However, the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, as cited in the report, shows a sharp decline in olive oil production. Production is projected to fall from around 32,000 tons in 2022 to 27,300 tons in 2024, and a drastic 7,000 tons in 2025, a nearly 75% decrease compared to the 2022 season.

During the last olive harvest season (October-November 2025), an estimated 6,000 olive trees were uprooted, damaged, or burned, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture and OCHA. Thousands more were uprooted during 2025. Palestinian and UN entities documented over 178 incidents of assault during the harvest period, while farmers faced increasing difficulties accessing their land. Since the start of 2026 until the end of June, 15,534 olive trees have been uprooted, raising concerns about the upcoming olive season.

The establishment of settlements has also led to the control of vast grazing and agricultural areas, reducing available land for Palestinian farmers and herders. This has impacted crop production and livestock farming, with shrinking grazing areas and rising feed costs forcing some herders to sell off animals or abandon the practice. The grape sector in the Hebron region and other seasonal crops have also been affected by access issues.

The cumulative damage to Palestinian agriculture threatens the livelihoods of tens of thousands of families, particularly as the crucial olive harvest season approaches.