Israeli settlers attack Palestinian olive pickers, torch 3 vehicles

Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers harvesting olives in the occupied West Bank on Friday, assaulting several people and setting three vehicles on fire, as violence against Palestinian communities intensifies during the annual olive harvest season.

The attack took place in Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah in the central occupied West Bank, according to local sources cited by Anadolu Agency.

The sources said a group of Israeli settlers targeted Palestinians collecting olives, physically assaulting several farmers before setting three Palestinian vehicles ablaze. The attackers also targeted areas on the outskirts of the town, raising further concerns about the safety of farmers working in their agricultural lands.

The incident comes as Palestinian farmers face growing challenges during the olive harvest, a crucial agricultural season that provides income for thousands of families and holds deep cultural and economic significance for Palestinian communities.

136 attacks reported during olive harvest

The Palestinian Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission said on Monday that it had documented 136 attacks linked to the olive harvest since the beginning of October.

According to the commission, the reported incidents involved Israeli forces and settlers and included physical assaults, expulsions, intimidation, gunfire, tear gas and arrests.

Farmers have also faced the theft of olives and harvesting equipment, as well as damage to olive trees. Such incidents have caused financial losses and restricted Palestinians’ access to agricultural land, the commission said.

The annual harvest is particularly important in the West Bank, where olive cultivation supports rural livelihoods and provides a major source of income for many Palestinian households.

Attacks during the harvesting period can prevent farmers from reaching their groves or collecting their crops, compounding the economic pressures on communities already facing restrictions and insecurity.

Violence continues across occupied Palestinian territories

Attacks by Israeli forces and settlers against Palestinians and their property across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have intensified since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, according to the report.

Violence has also continued in Gaza, where Palestinian civilians and residential areas remain exposed to Israeli military operations.

On Wednesday, a Palestinian woman was killed and two other people, including a girl, were injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a residential building in Gaza City’s Rimal neighbourhood, according to local sources.

A medical source at Al-Shifa Hospital identified the woman as 33-year-old Reem Asaad Awad and said the injured people were taken to the hospital following the strike. The attack caused extensive damage to the targeted apartment and nearby buildings, while a large fire broke out and was later extinguished by civil defence crews.

Witnesses also reported heavy fire from Israeli military vehicles and quadcopter drones towards Palestinian homes in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighbourhood. Explosive devices were reportedly dropped on Al-Sikka Street, while separate reports described demolitions of homes east of the city in areas where Israeli forces were deployed.

The latest incidents highlight the continuing risks faced by Palestinian civilians, including farmers trying to protect their livelihoods during the olive harvest season.