Olive Groves Under Siege As Settler Violence Ravages Harvest

Olive Groves Under Siege As Settler Violence Ravages Harvest

Palestinian families say they are facing an unprecedented wave of violence from Israeli settlers during this year’s olive harvest, with attacks carried out under army protection devastating entire communities across the occupied West Bank.

“I felt like I was dying,” said 53-year-old Afaf Abu Alia, recalling how settlers beat her with sticks as she picked olives near Ramallah. “I was alone among more than 20 settlers… They beat me on my head and hands.” She was later hospitalized with brain bleeding after Israeli troops reportedly fired tear gas at her family, allowing settlers to return and continue the assault.

The Abu Alia family, long targeted by settlers from nearby outposts including Maale Levona and Shilo, say their vehicle was destroyed and their olive crop stolen. Last year, 400 of their trees — many planted by their ancestors more than 150 years ago — were bulldozed. “When they cut our olive trees, it felt like they were gouging out our eyes,” Afaf said. “The olive tree is so precious to us — like our own children.”

Across the West Bank, more than 158 settler attacks have been documented since the harvest began, according to the Palestinian Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission. These assaults, often accompanied by Israeli soldiers, have left thousands of trees burned or uprooted and more than 110,000 dunams (27,000 acres) of farmland inaccessible to Palestinian farmers.

The olive industry — the lifeblood of many Palestinian communities — is now on the brink. Normally producing up to 22,000 tonnes a year, this season’s yield is expected to fall to just 7,000 tonnes, the lowest in decades. Losses have already topped $70 million, officials say.

“This is not just about trees,” said Mahmoud Ftafatfa of the Palestinian agriculture ministry. “It’s about people, heritage, and a connection to the land that’s older than the State of Israel itself.”

Key Takeaways:

• Over 150 settler attacks reported during this year’s olive harvest, many under army protection.

• Palestinian families losing trees, land access, and livelihoods amid escalating violence.

• Olive production expected to plunge to record lows, with economic losses exceeding $70 million.

Source: Middle East Eye