Israeli Forces and Settlers Target Olive Harvesters in West Bank

Israeli forces and settlers conducted 13 separate attacks on Palestinian olive harvesters and their lands across four governorates in the West Bank on Monday, during the olive harvesting season. The incidents included uprooting trees, destroying agricultural structures, stealing crops and equipment, and preventing farmers from accessing their lands.

The attacks occurred between 6 AM and 6 PM, affecting the governorates of Hebron, Ramallah, Jenin, and Nablus. The incidents ranged from property damage and theft to physical assaults and weapon threats. In Hebron, Israeli forces uprooted over 200 fruit-bearing trees in the village of Beerin, destroyed three water wells, and damaged agricultural structures, affecting an area of eight dunams. In Yatta, Israeli forces prevented farmers from harvesting olives in the villages of Tuwana and al-Rakeez, despite prior coordination for access. Settlers, backed by Israeli forces, also attacked olive harvesters in the Beit Kahil area, targeting individuals including Ahmed Salman al-Atwan and his family. Settlers also placed Israeli flags on lands in the Wadi al-Qaf area. In Sa'ir, settlers stole olives from farmers, while in Wadi Jihish east of Samu, settlers, protected by Israeli forces, harvested and stole crops after damaging olive trees and breaking branches. In Dura, armed settlers fired live ammunition at landowners to prevent them from accessing their lands, leading to the arrest of two members of the Rajoub family by Israeli forces. In Ramallah and al-Bireh, settlers, protected by Israeli forces, invaded olive groves in the village of al-Mughayyir, and released livestock into agricultural lands in the Wadi al-Baqar area of al-Mazra'a al-Sharqiyya, causing farmers to flee and preventing access to their lands. In Nablus, settlers stole olives from citizens' lands in the village of Qaryut and prevented owners from accessing the area, while also installing electrical poles in cultivated lands.

The attacks were documented by the Wall and Settlement Resistance Authority, which highlighted the ongoing violations and their impact on Palestinian farmers during the olive harvesting season.