Settler Violence Escalates in West Bank Amid Olive Harvest

Settlers, accompanied by Israeli forces, launched a series of attacks across the West Bank during the olive harvest season, targeting Palestinian farmers, their property, and agricultural lands. In the area of Bir Abu Dis, southeast of Jerusalem, approximately 55 ancient olive trees, some over 40 years old, were burned. The settlers also stole harvested olives and damaged harvesting equipment belonging to landowner Ibrahim Ismail Abu Hilal and his family, who were present during the attack. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of settler violence and Israeli government actions, including the designation of Palestinian land as "state property" for settlement expansion, aimed at displacing Palestinians from their land.

Further incidents were reported near Nablus, where two Palestinians were assaulted with pepper spray by settlers and hospitalized. In a separate event, Israeli soldiers reportedly attacked and injured three Palestinians after their arrest in the village of 'Asira al-Qibliya. Settlers, under military protection, also entered agricultural areas near al-Mughayyir, north of Ramallah, grazing their sheep on Palestinian land while the army raided a local home. In the Ras al-Ahmar area, Israeli forces arrested three farmers, confiscated a truckload of bananas, and conducted searches and photography of residents' homes. This area has been under military siege for over two weeks, with ongoing land leveling and destruction of water infrastructure for military road construction.

In Salfit, a farmer was severely beaten and had his harvested olives stolen by settlers in the village of Rafat. Another settler attack targeted a farmer's vehicle in the northern area of the town of Deir Ballut. In Hebron, settlers, protected by soldiers, threw stones at Palestinian homes in Wadi al-Husayn and Haret Jaber, causing fear among residents, while the army reportedly fired shots towards the homes. A 27-year-old man was injured in a settler attack in the town of 'Uzeir, south of Nablus, marking the second such attack on the town that day.

Witnesses and medics reported that Israeli soldiers actively supported settlers in seizing olive groves in the West Bank. Near Beita, in the northern West Bank, settlers attacked Palestinian farmers and visiting activists. Israeli soldiers then intervened, forcing the Palestinians and activists to flee, with several Palestinians arrested. Six journalists, including one from AFP, were detained by the army and later released. Farmer Mohammed Hamayel stated the army's objective was to "clear the area for the settlers to be able to pick the olives." In 'Asira al-Qibliya, near Nablus, Israeli soldiers fired tear gas at Palestinian farmers, igniting fires in dry fields, which farmers and firefighters worked to extinguish.