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West Bank olive harvest faces surge in settler attacks and tree destruction
Palestinian farmers in the West Bank are facing significant violence and property damage during the 2026 olive harvest season. According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, 219 attacks by Israeli forces and settlers have been documented since the beginning of October, involving physical assaults, the theft of crops and equipment, and the destruction of trees.
Reports indicate that over 50,000 trees have been targeted since the start of 2026. In the Nablus governorate alone, hundreds of attacks and thousands of damaged trees were recorded in the first half of the year. Specific incidents include the uprooting of olive trees, the theft of agricultural vehicles, and physical attacks on families harvesting their crops.
Despite these challenges, the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture expects a production of approximately 21,000 tons of olive oil for the 2026 season, with an estimated 4,000 tons intended for export. However, the economic impact is severe; direct losses to the olive oil crop have reportedly exceeded 66.5 million dollars, with nearly 98,293 olive trees damaged in the West Bank as of late September.
Entities
Hebron · Nablus · Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture · Ramallah · Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission · West Bank
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Direct losses to the olive oil crop have exceeded 66.5 million dollars. hadfnews.ps
- [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 50,000 trees have been attacked since the start of 2026.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture expects a production of approximately 21,000 tons of olive oil for the 2026 season.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 219 attacks by Israeli forces and settlers against olive harvesters have been documented in the West Bank since early October. hadfnews.ps
- [○ 1 SOURCE] As of late September 2026, 98,293 olive trees in the West Bank have been damaged. hadfnews.ps