Olive harvest begins, land ignites: tensions in the West Bank escalate

The olive harvest season in Judea and Samaria is accompanied by a sharp wave of violent incidents between settlers and Palestinians, against the backdrop of an especially large crop and illegal outposts. Palestinians report clashes, denial of access to lands, use of tear gas by the IDF, and cutting off water supply to a shepherd community. A military source confirmed friction incidents.

The olive harvest season in Judea and Samaria, this year with an especially large crop, has led to a sharp wave of violent incidents between settlers and Palestinians, against the backdrop of dozens of outposts and farms, legal and illegal. The IDF Central Command has deployed reinforced forces to secure the harvest and prevent friction, but since the morning hours many friction and violent incidents have been recorded. Palestinians report clashes with settlers harvesting their olives, use of gas grenades by Border Police soldiers that ignited fires on agricultural lands in Qusra, and firing of tear gas at Palestinians who sought to harvest in their orchards in Deir Abu Mash'al, west of Ramallah, in Area B. Additionally, Palestinians from the village of Na'ama were documented being turned back from their lands by the IDF. In another case, a family from the Ras al-Ahmar shepherd community in the northern Jordan Valley was forced to leave the area due to an IDF siege, roadblocks, cutting off water supply, and confiscation of cars, against the backdrop of the construction of the "Second Wire" barrier. So far, 16 families have left. The IDF has not issued an official response, but a military source confirmed friction incidents in the sector.