Record Number of Attacks on Palestinian Farmers

This year’s olive harvest season in the occupied West Bank has seen the highest level of settler attacks since 2020, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

From early October, 126 attacks were recorded in 70 towns and villages, with over 4,000 olive trees and saplings vandalized. Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian vehicles in Deir Dibwan and seized olives from farmers in Sinjil.

In Turmus Aya, soldiers used tear gas to disperse harvesters after settlers arrived, despite army directives requiring soldiers to protect Palestinian farmers.

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Annexation and Escalating Violence

Settler violence has surged in 2025, with 757 attacks reported in the first half of the year, marking a 13% increase compared to 2024, per Peace Now.

The Israeli parliament recently gave preliminary approval to a bill imposing sovereignty over the West Bank, a move widely seen as de facto annexation. This follows a warning from US President Donald Trump that annexation would not be allowed, reinforced by Vice President JD Vance.

The annexation move would undermine any possibility of a two-state solution, as repeatedly called for in UN resolutions.

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Impact on Gaza’s Olive Industry

Meanwhile in Gaza, the olive industry has been devastated by war. Thousands of tonnes of olives were lost, with most presses destroyed. Farmers like Mohammed Oweida reported that remaining groves are struggling due to lack of water and past destruction.

Facilities like the Nasser Odeh Olive Press Group, once producing 15–20 tonnes annually for Gulf markets, have been “completely destroyed,” leaving local farmers without livelihoods.

Despite this, the surviving trees remain a symbol of Palestinian resilience, according to Al Jazeera reporters.