As mediators struggle to sustain a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank has continued to rise, targeting Palestinians during the ongoing olive harvest season.
According to Palestinian and U.N. officials, settlers have carried out numerous attacks on Palestinian farmers and their olive groves since the start of October. The olive tree, a symbol of Palestinian connection to the land, has once again become a target of aggression.
The Palestinian Authority’s Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission (CWRC) reported at least 158 attacks since early October — a 13% increase compared to the same period last year. Ajith Sunghay, head of the U.N. Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said that settlers had burned groves, cut down trees, and destroyed homes and agricultural infrastructure.
“Israeli settler violence has skyrocketed in scale and frequency,” Sunghay said, adding that these acts often occur with the “acquiescence or participation” of Israeli security forces.
The Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, representing Israeli settlements near Turmus Ayya, condemned all forms of violence but claimed that settlers carried weapons solely for self-defense.
Palestinian farmers, however, describe a different reality. In the village of al-Mughayyir, farmer Abu Alia said settlers had previously cut down her family’s orchard of 500 olive trees. “I fell to the ground and couldn’t feel anything,” she said after being assaulted.
Olives are vital to the Palestinian economy, contributing around 8% to GDP and supporting more than 60,000 jobs. Yet, ongoing Israeli settler violence and military restrictions have prevented many farmers from accessing their land.
The Palestinian Agriculture Ministry reported a 17% increase in financial losses for West Bank farmers this year. Over 15,000 olive trees have been attacked since October 2024, according to the CWRC.
Human rights groups accuse the Israeli army of enabling such attacks by failing to intervene or by blocking Palestinian access to farms. Despite official statements claiming to ensure a “safe harvest,” local witnesses say protection remains minimal.
For many Palestinians, the olive harvest — once a season of unity and livelihood — has become a time of fear and loss.
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