Settler Violence Causes $1.2 Million in West Bank Agricultural Losses in One Week

The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture announced that settler and Israeli forces' attacks in the West Bank resulted in approximately $1.2 million in agricultural losses during the week of October 23-29. These attacks coincided with the olive harvest season, with ongoing assaults targeting farmers and their land. The ministry documented 171 direct violations affecting 64 Palestinian farmers, noting that these figures represent only the damage in accessible areas due to security restrictions and movement difficulties. The attacks primarily focused on destroying agricultural assets, including the uprooting, breaking, burning, and theft of 889 olive trees, with olive sector losses alone estimated at $586,870. The ministry warned that these actions threaten the current agricultural season and cause long-term damage to farmers' livelihoods, particularly by targeting ancient trees vital for future generations. The Hebron Governorate suffered the most, with direct losses of $301,424 due to damage to agricultural facilities, water networks, and the prevention of farmers from accessing their land under threat of weapons. The ministry stated that attacks have escalated beyond property destruction to include physical assaults and shootings, aiming to undermine agricultural production and Palestinian presence in Area C. The UN Office of Human Rights warned that attacks during the olive harvest have become a tool for displacement and land seizure, exacerbating the suffering of Palestinian communities. The office had previously recorded over 160 settler attacks targeting olive pickers in the West Bank during the first two weeks of October, often with Israeli forces' protection or participation. In a recent incident on Sunday, settlers attacked olive pickers in Kafr Malik, near Ramallah, forcing them off their land. The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported 19 attacks by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank within the preceding 24 hours, targeting olive pickers and their land. These included beatings, arrests, threats with weapons, theft of crops and equipment, vehicle damage, and the destruction of agricultural land and trees. In Qalqilya, settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Kafr Laqaf, while Israeli forces established a checkpoint hindering Palestinian movement.