A series of violent attacks by illegal Israeli settlers against Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest has resulted in at least 16 injuries and the destruction of 55 olive trees across the occupied West Bank. The incidents occurred throughout Saturday, marking a significant escalation in the challenges faced by Palestinian agricultural workers during one of their most vital economic seasons.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, five individuals were beaten while harvesting olives in Sebastia, north of Nablus. In the same region, three people were injured during an assault in Asira al-Qibliya, while two others required attention after being sprayed with pepper spray in the village of Beit Imrin. Additionally, a farmer in Arrabuna, east of Jenin, sustained bruises during a separate attack.
A particularly severe incident was reported in the Al-Tin al-Shami area of Rantis, northwest of Ramallah. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that illegal settlers attacked a family—including a man, his wife, and their children—using sticks, weapons, and pepper spray. Five family members were injured in the encounter, and the wife was reportedly run over during the assault. In another act of destruction, approximately 55 olive trees, all over 40 years old, were burned by illegal settlers in the wilderness of Abu Dis, southeast of Jerusalem, while a family was actively harvesting their crop.
Local sources also documented farmers being assaulted east of Qalqilya, where settlers attempted to block access to agricultural land in an effort to force the farmers to abandon their property. These attacks are part of a broader pattern of seasonal disruption, which includes blocked access, crop theft, and the destruction of trees.
Data from the Palestinian Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission highlights the scale of the issue, noting that more than 45,000 trees were damaged or uprooted in the first half of 2026, including over 26,000 olive trees. Furthermore, the commission reported 647 settler attacks across the West Bank in September alone, resulting in the deaths of three Palestinians. Official figures indicate there are approximately 750,000 illegal Israeli settlers living in 194 settlements and 400 outposts across the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem. The United Nations maintains that these settlements are illegal under international law and continue to undermine the possibility of a two-state solution.
