At least 19 settler attacks target Palestinians in West Bank

Field reports recorded at least nineteen attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians by midday on Friday. The Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission documented a wave of violence across the occupied West Bank targeting agricultural communities. Incidents included assaults on olive harvesters and the burning of trees in several locations.

The Palestinian body monitoring settlements stated that attacks involved the theft of crops and livestock alongside direct assaults on residents. These incidents point to an escalation in settler violence during the annual olive harvest. This period serves as a vital source of income for many Palestinian families living in the region.

In Qusra, settlers uprooted more than fifty olive trees while others burned a vehicle in Tell. Olive harvesters faced attacks in Jurish, Beita, An-Nakura, Birzeit, Deir Ibzi and Fara'ata. Settlers also opened fire in Deir Ballut and wounded a farmer in Kafr ad-Dik during separate violent incidents reported across the territory.

An elderly woman was wounded in Birin after settlers set their dogs on farmers. In Yabrud, attackers beat a man and his child before stealing their vehicle. Video footage showed settler cars blocking the Palestinians before the assault occurred. Additional attacks targeted vehicles in Sarada and Al-Rayhan while sheep were stolen in Ein Qiniya.

The commission warned that these attacks make it increasingly difficult for Palestinians to access their land. It stated that the recurrence of such violence reinforces an environment of coercion intended to push people off their property. Targeting the harvest season violates Palestinian rights to their land, work and security according to the statement.