Settlers' attacks escalate in the West Bank during the olive harvest season

Jerusalem - Ofoq News - Today, Saturday, various areas in the West Bank witnessed a series of attacks and confrontations between settlers, Israeli soldiers, and Palestinian citizens, against the backdrop of the olive harvest season, despite the Israeli army announcing the reinforcement of its forces in the region to secure the season and prevent friction.

The Israeli newspaper "Maariv" reported that the Central Command of the Israeli army expected that this year's olive harvest season would lead to widespread friction and escalation of tension, in light of the abundance of the olive crop and the establishment of dozens of settlement outposts and pastoral farms, some licensed and others unlicensed.

Despite the army's announcement of its readiness for the season and the deployment of additional forces, many incidents and attacks have been recorded since the morning hours.

According to the newspaper, Palestinian citizens reported that the Israeli army is facing difficulty in dealing with a wave of attacks carried out by activists from the Israeli right.

In the area between Deir Dibwan and Burqa, below Route 60, Palestinians documented the appearance of settler Elisha Yared and others armed, preventing Palestinian farmers from reaching their lands to pick olives.

In another incident, Palestinians reported that citizens of the town of Qusra went to the olive groves today and were surprised by settlers picking olives from their trees.

Reports added that occupation soldiers arrived at the scene and threw gas bombs, causing fires to break out in agricultural lands.

Palestinian citizens also reported that the Israeli army fired tear gas at citizens who tried to pick olives in their orchards in the village of Deir Abu Mishal, west of Ramallah, with the aim of driving them away from the place.

They pointed out that the area falls within classification “B” and does not require prior coordination, but during the past year the Israeli authorities allowed settlers to seize land and establish a settlement outpost in the area.

In the village of Kafr Ni'ma, west of Ramallah, scenes published by Palestinian citizens showed the return of farmers who were picking olives from their lands and their removal from them at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces.

In South Mount Hebron, Palestinian citizens reported that settlers, protected by the army, continued to besiege the home of Youssef Shanaran’s family in the Wadi al-Rakhim area, south of Yatta, for the fourth day in a row.

In another incident, a family from the Ras al-Ahmar pastoral community north of the Jordan Valley was forced to leave the area, as a result of a siege imposed by the Israeli army on their residential area.

Palestinian reports added that, in recent weeks, the occupation army closed the roads leading to the gathering and prevented vehicle traffic, including transporting water and milk produced by shepherds, or transporting children to schools, since the progress of construction of the barrier road known as the “Seam Thread”, which isolates the area from the rest of Tubas Governorate.

It was also reported that settlers and Israeli authorities cut off water supplies to the community, while the army confiscated vehicles belonging to its residents, indicating that 16 families have left the site so far.

The Israeli army did not issue an official response to the reports, while a military source acknowledged that “incidents of friction” had occurred in the area, and said that large forces were deployed in the field, but limited incidents occurred in some locations.