Israeli settlers attack Palestinians during olive harvest
Dozens of militant Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on Friday, injuring at least two individuals, including a journalist, as villagers attempted to harvest olives in a cherished annual tradition, reports BritPanorama.
Approximately 80 settlers, some carrying gas canisters, descended from a hill onto the olive groves of Abu Falah, where local residents had gathered. Eyewitnesses reported that the settlers positioned themselves in front of the olive trees, launching rocks towards the villagers, who retaliated by throwing stones in self-defense.
Witness Moutaz Abdelhadi, 42, a local farmer, described the settlers’ intentions, stating, “The settlers want to attack us and force us from our homes.” Amidst the chaos, at least two Israeli military jeeps passed through the area, prompting villagers to scatter for safety.
Despite the military’s presence, the violence persisted, with soldiers deploying tear gas against Palestinians who attempted to evade the jeeps. Reports indicate that gunfire erupted, with at least one armed settler observed firing a weapon. The Israeli military did not respond to requests for comments related to the incident.
Palestinian medical teams reported two injuries requiring hospitalization in the Ramallah area, one of whom was Heidi Levine, a photojournalist for the Washington Post. Video footage captured her being surrounded by settlers while lying on the ground. Speaking from her hospital bed, Levine recounted, “I was attacked, pushed to the ground. Luckily I had my flak jacket and helmet, otherwise I probably wouldn’t even be here, because they just kept kicking me and kicking me.”
The escalating settler violence against Palestinians has been alarming, with over 170 attacks noted since September 27, coinciding with the start of the olive harvest, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli monitoring group.
This surge in violence has been attributed, in part, to the hardline policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which has facilitated the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. While Netanyahu has criticized the violence, tangible actions to quell such incidents or address international concerns remain minimal.
The West Bank is home to around 500,000 settlers and more than 3 million Palestinians. Most international bodies condemn the settlements as illegal under international law, a claim Israel disputes, arguing that the territory is disputed rather than occupied.
The Abu Falah attack follows another incident earlier that day in Turmus Ayya village, where settlers set fire to three cars after assaulting farmers engaged in olive harvesting. Local eyewitness Salah Abu Niswa described the assailants as sneaking in and attacking a solitary victim.
As violence continues in the region, the ongoing conflict raises questions about the future of agricultural practices and the safety of Palestinian communities during key harvest periods.
