Israeli settlers attack Palestinian olive harvesters in West Bank

Three Palestinian agricultural workers sustained injuries Saturday when illegal Israeli settlers attacked olive harvesters in the occupied West Bank's southern Nablus district. According to Palestinian news agency Wafa, armed settlers assaulted farmers using sticks and dogs in the Wadi al-Hajj Issa area near Aqraba, forcing Palestinian agricultural workers to abandon their harvest activities and flee from traditional olive groves.

Systematic Harvest Disruption

Simultaneous incidents occurred in the nearby town of Duma, where Israeli military forces prevented Palestinian landowners from accessing their olive orchards. Local village council head Suleiman Dawabsha reported that settlers have repeatedly targeted agricultural operations through multiple methods including physical assaults, olive theft, tree vandalism, and unauthorized livestock grazing on privately owned Palestinian farmland during critical harvest periods.

Broader Pattern of Agricultural Attacks

The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission documented over 7,000 settler attacks against Palestinians and their properties throughout the West Bank since the Gaza conflict began in October 2023. Commission statistics indicate 158 specific assaults targeting olive harvest operations since the beginning of the current month, with widespread military restrictions designating agricultural zones as "closed military areas" creating what officials describe as the most challenging harvest conditions in decades.

Economic Impact and Production Data

The olive harvest represents a crucial income source for thousands of Palestinian families, with this year's yield estimated at merely 15% of average production levels according to Agricultural Ministry assessments. While Palestine produced approximately 27,300 tons of olive oil during 2024, representing improvement over 2023's severely limited 10,000-ton output, current harvest conditions continue to threaten the economic viability of this essential agricultural sector for Palestinian communities.