The ongoing turmoil in the West Bank, marked by increasing violence against Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest season, highlights the deepening humanitarian crisis in the region. As settlers intensify their attacks against Palestinian communities, the situation underscores the urgent need for solidarity and support for those whose livelihoods and cultural heritage are under threat. The olive tree, a symbol of peace and resilience, becomes a battleground, reflecting broader historical tensions that continue to impact the daily lives of residents.
Israeli settlers have launched a series of aggressive attacks on several Palestinian villages across the occupied West Bank, particularly during the critical time of olive harvesting. Reports indicate that at least three Palestinians sustained injuries on Saturday as settlers targeted farmers in Deir Nidham, located northwest of Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Wafa news agency.
Local resident and activist Mujahid Tamimi recounted distressing incidents where settlers assaulted farmers near the village’s entrance, wielding rifle butts and forcibly evicting them from their land. In a concerning escalation, Israeli forces reportedly entered the village to safeguard the settlers and arrested 31-year-old Motasem Abdullah Tamimi.
These incidents occur amid a broader increase in violence experienced by Palestinians across the West Bank, a situation that has intensified following the onset of Israel’s military operations in Gaza beginning in October 2023. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that these military actions have left over 1,000 Palestinians dead and more than 10,000 wounded.
Traditionally, the olive harvest, which commences in early October, brings heightened tensions. As Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh noted, settler assaults frequently transpire alongside Israeli soldiers, who sometimes engage in these actions. The settlers, often armed and sometimes comprising individuals with military backgrounds, are perceived as having been emboldened by the current right-wing government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Analysts argue that these attacks are strategically designed to intimidate Palestinians, making it increasingly precarious for them to remain in their homes. Harvesting olives is not merely an economic necessity for many Palestinians—it also carries profound cultural significance, with 80,000 to 100,000 families relying on this activity for their livelihoods, as stated by United Nations data.
Since the beginning of this year’s olive season, the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission has recorded 158 reported attacks on olive pickers, comprising 17 by the Israeli army and 141 executed by settlers, who enjoy widespread impunity. For two consecutive weeks, Israeli forces have restricted farmers’ access to their land, further complicating harvest efforts.
On Saturday, in the village of Kafr Malek, settlers allegedly used pepper spray against Palestinian farmers, resulting in multiple injuries. In another incident near Bethlehem’s Nahalin village, a settler and three Israeli soldiers physically assaulted 65-year-old Ahmad Shakarna as he harvested olives with his family. Confrontations also occurred in Beit Awwa, near Hebron, where Israeli forces deployed tear gas and sound bombs to disperse farmers seeking to access their farmland.
Additionally, in the villages of Aqraba and Qabalan south of Nablus, armed settlers, accompanied by attack dogs, attacked farmers, seizing their tools and injuring three individuals before forcing them off their land. The situation is compounded by the presence of over 700,000 Israeli settlers residing in more than 250 settlements across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, many of which are deemed illegal under international law. Over the past two years, these settlers have systematically targeted Palestinian property more than 2,400 times, resulting in the displacement of at least 3,055 individuals, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
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