Settler Attacks Damage 98,000 Olive Trees in West Bank, Causing Millions in Losses

Settlers escalated attacks against Palestinians and their property in the West Bank on Thursday, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The assaults included preventing olive harvesting, stealing and destroying crops, bulldozing Palestinian land, and raiding towns and archaeological sites. In southern Nablus, settlers attacked farmers from Odla village, blocking them from accessing their land and harvesting olives. Local sources reported that settlers drove farmers away from their fields. In Al-Mughayyir village, northeast of Ramallah, settlers stole olive crops under the protection of Israeli forces, leading to confrontations between Palestinians and soldiers. Settlers also bulldozed private Palestinian land in Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah, while Israeli forces maintained a five-day siege on a resident's home, preventing access to the village cemetery. The head of Umm Safa village council stated the siege aims to force the homeowner out due to the property's proximity to a settlement outpost, warning of a plan to displace villagers for a large settlement.

In another incident northwest of Ramallah, dozens of settlers raided the Wadi al-Raya area between Deir Nidham and Nabi Saleh villages, with Israeli forces closing roads and obstructing traffic. The head of Nabi Saleh village council noted increased settler and military incursions since October 7, 2023, coinciding with restrictions on Palestinian access to agricultural lands. These attacks are part of a broader surge targeting the olive harvest season, involving access denial, theft, tree cutting, and arson. The Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported 900 settler attacks in Nablus during the first half of 2026, with 137 in August alone. The Ministry of Agriculture stated that by the end of September 2026, 98,293 olive trees were damaged in the West Bank, with direct crop losses exceeding $66.5 million and cumulative losses since 2023 reaching approximately $316.9 million. The ministry also noted an increase in inaccessible agricultural land near the separation barrier and settlements, from 130,000 dunams to between 220,000 and 230,000 dunams.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces secured the entry of settlers into Joseph's Tomb in Nablus on Thursday morning. Military vehicles entered the eastern area of the city, raiding neighborhoods and forcing residents from their homes to establish military posts. Residents reported confrontations with Israeli forces in market areas, with roads around the tomb closed. Hundreds of settlers performed Talmudic rituals and prayers at the site, bringing plant offerings, under heavy military protection. The Nablus Directorate of Education suspended school activities due to the ongoing military operation. Settler groups had previously announced their intention to enter Joseph's Tomb for prayer during Sukkot. These incursions into Joseph's Tomb, often occurring monthly under military protection, frequently lead to clashes, tear gas deployment, and the forced evacuation of Palestinian families from their homes.