Hundreds of Attacks Target Olive Harvest in West Bank Over 3 Weeks
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission documented 409 attacks by Israeli settlers and the military against Palestinian olive farmers and their property in the West Bank between October 1st and 21st. These incidents included physical assaults, crop theft, and damage to trees and equipment, with Nablus and Salfit provinces being the most affected. One farmer died from gunshot wounds sustained during an attack. The commission called for protection for farmers and accountability for perpetrators.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- 409 attacks targeting West Bank olive farmers and their property were documented between October 1-21.
- Settlers committed 317 attacks, while the Israeli military was involved in 92 incidents.
- Nablus and Salfit provinces suffered the highest number of attacks, accounting for 63% of the total.
- Attacks included physical assaults, crop theft, denial of access, and damage to trees and equipment.
- One farmer died from settler gunfire, and several others were injured in various incidents.
- The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission called for farmer protection and accountability.
The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported a significant increase in attacks against olive pickers in the West Bank, documenting 409 incidents between October 1st and 21st. These attacks, carried out by Israeli settlers and the Israeli military, targeted farmers, their land, olive trees, and agricultural equipment. Settlers were responsible for 317 attacks, while the military committed 92. The violations included preventing farmers from accessing their land, assaulting them during harvest, confiscating crops, and damaging trees and equipment.
Nablus province recorded the highest number of attacks with 166, followed by Salfit with 91, Ramallah and Al-Bireh with 69, Jenin with 36, and Hebron with 30. Qalqilya, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem also saw attacks. Nablus and Salfit combined accounted for approximately 63% of the total documented incidents.
Direct attacks on farmers numbered 287, encompassing intimidation, physical assault, denial of access, arrest, and detention. Specific incidents included 149 cases of intimidation, 50 physical assaults, 29 movement restrictions, 18 arrests during harvest, and 15 detentions in olive fields. Additionally, pepper spray and tear gas were used in 14 instances, and live ammunition in 11. Tragically, a citizen named Ali Hassan Bazari died on October 7th from wounds sustained by settler gunfire while picking olives near Nablus.
Other violent incidents included an attack on October 17th in Masafer Yatta, where settlers, protected by the military, injured one person with live ammunition and caused two others to faint from pepper spray. On October 16th, three farmers were injured by settlers in Azzun Atme, with other injuries reported in Beita on the same day.
Beyond direct assaults on people, 122 attacks targeted trees, land, equipment, and property. This included 57 instances of olive theft, 23 confiscations of agricultural equipment, 12 cases of tree damage, 11 uprootings, 7 instances of land burning, 5 tree destructions, 4 property fires, and 4 land bulldozing incidents. In one case on October 16th, settlers overturned a vehicle and stole olives in Qabalan. In Rantis, farmers were detained for over two hours while the military confiscated olives and harvesting equipment.
The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission stressed the need to guarantee farmers' access to their land, enable safe harvesting and transport of crops, and hold perpetrators accountable. The commission highlighted that these ongoing attacks exacerbate economic losses for Palestinian families and threaten their livelihoods, calling for concrete measures to protect farmers, their trees, and equipment.
Mentioned
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Arab 2
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
