Settler Attacks Injure Palestinians, Damage Property During Olive Harvest

Settlers escalated attacks against Palestinians, their property, and agricultural lands across the West Bank on Monday, coinciding with the olive harvest season. Palestinian reports indicate that these assaults resulted in injuries to several citizens, alongside the destruction of trees, vehicles, and homes, as well as the theft of crops and farming equipment. These incidents occur amid a wider surge in attacks targeting farmers during the olive season, raising concerns about their ability to access land and harvest crops, which are a primary source of livelihood for many Palestinian families.

In the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate, two Palestinians sustained injuries and bruises near the Bedouin Kaabneh gathering east of Taybeh village after settlers attacked them. An ambulance belonging to the Salwad municipality was also reportedly attacked while en route to assist the injured. In Turmus Ayya, settlers assaulted a citizen and his mother, burning their vehicle. A farmer was injured in Burham, and olive fruits were stolen in Umm Safa. Settlers also drove livestock onto cultivated land in Sinjil, while farmers were prevented from accessing their land in Rantis.

In the Nablus Governorate, settlers attacked olive harvesters in the villages of Bazaria, Beita, Qusra, Qabalan, Barqa, and Madama, assaulting farmers and stealing olive fruits and harvesting equipment. In Beita, settlers attacked a home, cut down olive trees nearby, and damaged a vehicle. The Israeli military arrested the homeowner, Muti al-Aqtaash, following the attack. In the Al-Arameh area of Beita, electricity was cut to the home of Muntasir Hamayel after its supporting pole was severed.

In the Bethlehem Governorate, settlers cut down 120 olive trees on a 10-dunam plot of land in Kisan village. In the Hebron Governorate, settlers burned a caravan and a shed while pursuing farmers in Wadi al-Rakheem, east of Sumu' town.

The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported a total of 18 incidents across six governorates between 6 AM and 6 PM on Monday, including assaults, arrests, expulsions, crop and equipment theft, property arson, and tree destruction. The commission also stated that in September, Israeli forces and settlers carried out 2,051 attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem, with settlers responsible for 647 of these. These September attacks resulted in the deaths of three Palestinians, direct harm to 88 others, and the destruction of 14,600 trees, including 9,334 olive trees. Since the beginning of 2026 until the end of September, settler attacks totaled 5,561, according to the commission's data. The commission warned that these attacks threaten Palestinians' ability to work their land and benefit from the olive harvest, calling for an end to the violence and accountability for those responsible.