Palestinian Olive Harvest Season Marred by Attacks in West Bank

Numerous areas across the West Bank experienced attacks on Palestinian citizens, farmers, and their property on Saturday, according to Palestinian local and human rights sources. The incidents resulted in injuries from live fire, beatings, and tear gas inhalation, alongside the theft of livestock, damage to olive trees and crops, and arrests. The Israeli military reported that its forces and border police were dispatched near the town of Beit Lid in the northern West Bank following a report of an Israeli citizen injured in an altercation between Israelis and Palestinians. The injured individual was taken for treatment, and forces began searching the area, while reports of additional injuries were being investigated.

In Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, Palestinian Red Crescent crews treated six individuals for injuries sustained during attacks. These included a young man shot in the thigh, four women who were beaten and exposed to gas, and a toddler affected by gas inhalation. Nidal Younis, head of the Masafer Yatta village council, stated that settler groups, with Israeli forces' participation, attacked the areas of Ma'in and Al-Khalidiya, near the town of Al-Karmel, stealing three flocks of sheep totaling approximately 200 animals. Activist Osama Mukhamra reported that settlers attacked the Abu Sabha family while they were harvesting olives in their land in the village of Al-Lutun, south of Yatta. Israeli forces also reportedly raided the Ma'in Boys' School in the town that morning.

In the Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate, farmers faced attacks and harassment during the olive harvest. Hassan Mulayhat, general supervisor of Al-Bader Human Rights Organization, said settlers attacked olive pickers in the village of Deir Jarir, east of Ramallah, firing live ammunition at them without reported injuries. Activist Khaled Bairat reported that settlers killed about 20 sheep belonging to Ziad Al-Darbani in a farm east of the village. In Abu Falah village, northeast of Ramallah, settlers attempted to force olive pickers off their land but failed. Settlers also drove their livestock into olive groves in the eastern Al-Mughayyir plain, with Israeli forces present, causing damage. In Burqa village, east of Ramallah, settlers entered farmers' lands accompanied by Israeli forces, who then expelled the farmers. The forces also detained the vehicle of Abdullah Abu Awad. In Deir Ammar, village council head Bakr Jihad reported that farmers were attacked in the eastern Al-Tin area, with Israeli forces firing rubber bullets, injuring two people, one seriously enough to require hospitalization. Olive fruits were also reported stolen from the Al-Marj area in Umm Safa village, northwest of Ramallah.

In Nablus Governorate, farmers were attacked while harvesting olives. Israeli forces allegedly assaulted farmers in the eastern area of Beit Furik, throwing olives to the ground and expelling them, resulting in one injury. Olive trees were reportedly destroyed and cut in the Beit Furik plain. Farmers also faced gunfire and attacks near Hawara and the vicinity of Burin village, with reports of stolen olives and equipment. In Salem village, east of Nablus, medical teams treated cases of tear gas inhalation after Israeli soldiers allegedly attacked farmers. Attacks on farmers were also reported in the villages of Usrin and Jalud, south of Nablus. In separate incidents, Israeli forces arrested released prisoner Hazem Judeh from Iraq Al-Ta'i village and two young men, Mohammed Taysir Ishtayeh and Yamen Yasser Ishtayeh, from Tal village. Farmers in the Wadi Al-Sha'er area near Salfit also reported an attack.

In Jenin Governorate, Israeli forces fired live ammunition at a vehicle in Nablus Street, injuring a young man with shrapnel. Another young man was injured and arrested during an Israeli forces' raid on the village of Al-Aqsah, south of Jenin. Near Jerusalem, Israeli forces and settlers reportedly blocked the road leading to the town of Beit Anan. The Israeli military confirmed its forces responded to an incident near Beit Lid where an Israeli citizen was injured following an altercation, stating that searches were ongoing. These events coincide with the olive harvest season in the West Bank, amidst Palestinian complaints of attacks and restrictions on accessing agricultural lands. The details of the incidents are based on Palestinian local and human rights sources, while the Israeli military's response was limited to the Beit Lid incident.