Settler Violence Escalates in West Bank, Injuring Palestinians and Burning Farmland

Settlers intensified attacks against Palestinians and their property across the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, coinciding with Israeli forces' incursions and restrictions on farmers' access to their land. Palestinians were prevented from harvesting olives, with accusations that Israeli forces provided protection to settlers during these assaults and crop theft. In Dir Jarir, east of Ramallah, Israeli forces declared agricultural lands in the Al-Harayeq area a closed military zone, blocking farmers from accessing their land for olive harvesting. In the Nablus governorate, settlers set fire to agricultural land belonging to the town of Burqa, northwest of the city, causing significant damage. In the Hebron governorate, settlers attacked a family in the Masafet Yatta area, using sharp objects and causing head and face injuries. One of the injured, Saeed Majed Rashaida, was transferred to Al-Ahli Hospital and placed in intensive care. In another incident in Masafet Yatta, two Palestinians were injured by armed settlers who attacked the village of Umm Nizel, throwing stones at homes and structures. In the Salfit governorate, settlers from an outpost attacked residents in the Al-Thuhour area of Dir Istiya, detaining Nael Rayyan, Azzam Dhiab, Ahmad Khalaf, and Dawood Ziyada before releasing them. Settlers also conducted provocative tours among Palestinian homes in the Al-Hadidiyah area of the northern Jordan Valley, raising residents' fears. These attacks follow a report by the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission documenting 13 attacks by Israeli forces and settlers on Tuesday in various West Bank governorates. These included attacks on farmers, prevention of olive harvesting, theft of crops and equipment, tree destruction, and blocking roads. In occupied Jerusalem, settlers, protected by Israeli police, continued to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, imposing restrictions on Palestinian worshippers, confiscating IDs, and expelling others. Similar attacks on farmers in Dir Jarir were reported previously, including live ammunition being fired on October 17 to intimidate olive harvesters. A UN OCHA report from October 15 indicated 199 harvest-related attacks in the West Bank between September 1 and October 12, resulting in one Palestinian death, 124 injuries, and damage to over 2,500 olive trees and saplings. The Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorate recorded the highest number of attacks with 122, followed by Nablus with 37.