Israeli settlers take Palestinian olives, and their harvest traditions

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports from Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, that Israeli settlers and Palestinian farmers are once again clashing over the olive harvest, a season tied closely to Palestinian family life, agriculture and identity. The article focuses on videos circulating in settler groups showing men harvesting olives from trees on land Palestinians say they own in the village of Qaryut. One man identified by local residents as Avichai Suissa, who runs a farm on an illegal outpost and has been sanctioned by the European Union and the United Kingdom, appears in the footage promoting the activity as part of his effort to expand the site.

Palestinians in the area say they have been unable to reach some of their groves since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, and that Israeli forces have sometimes blocked access or declared land closed military zones. The report says settler violence around the harvest has intensified this year, with a Palestinian rights group documenting 109 incidents across 75 communities between September 27 and October 6. It also cites a deadly attack near the villages of Ramin and Burqa, where a farmer was killed while heading to his trees.

Beyond the immediate violence, the article describes what Palestinians see as an effort by settlers to appropriate the traditions of the olive season, including collective picking and shared meals. It also notes that Israeli military orders have led to the uprooting of olive trees in some areas, deepening fears of dispossession and loss of income for farm families.