Palestinians Injured as Settler Attacks Intensify During Olive Harvest in West Bank

A wave of violent attacks by Israeli settlers and military forces has swept across the occupied West Bank, targeting Palestinian farmers during the critical olive harvest season. According to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, six individuals—including four women and a child—were injured in the village of Ma’in in Masafer Yatta. Further incidents were reported in Deir Ammar, Tuqu, and Kafr Malek, where settlers reportedly killed livestock and destroyed property, while military forces utilized tear gas and live ammunition to forcibly remove farmers from their ancestral lands.

Al Jazeera reports that these coordinated actions are part of an escalating campaign, with over 300 documented attacks since the beginning of October. In Beit Furik and Deir Jarir, settlers under military protection have systematically destroyed olive groves and intimidated harvesters. Mayor Najeh Rustum of Kafr Malek described the persistent nature of these raids, noting that military forces often provide cover for settler aggression, effectively preventing Palestinians from accessing their agricultural livelihoods during the peak harvest period.

The surge in violence follows a controversial religious edict issued by Rabbi Dov Lior, a prominent figure associated with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party. Lior’s edict explicitly permits the seizure of Palestinian olive crops, framing the act as a religious commandment to assert ownership over the land. This ideological justification has emboldened extremist groups, such as the Hilltop Youth, to openly advertise and execute campaigns aimed at displacing Palestinian farmers and asserting territorial control.

Observers suggest that the lack of intervention from the Israeli government is politically motivated, particularly ahead of the upcoming October 27 elections. Despite the documented nature of these pogroms and the clear identification of perpetrators, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has largely downplayed the violence. As the harvest season continues, the combination of state-sanctioned military support and extremist settler ideology poses a severe threat to the safety and economic stability of Palestinian communities throughout the occupied West Bank.