The grand mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories, Sheikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, issued a fatwa on Tuesday prohibiting the purchase of olive products sourced from Israeli settlers. The ruling, announced by Hussein’s office, responds to a rise in settler attacks targeting olive trees during this year’s harvest season.

Sheikh Hussein emphasized that buying products stolen from Palestinian land supports theft and aggression, particularly as these transactions aid the seizure of Palestinian territories and the displacement of their inhabitants. “The basic principle is the prohibition of buying something stolen because its seller does not own it nor does he have the right to dispose of it,” Hussein stated. He warned that purchasing these goods empowers what he described as “the usurping occupier” and called for collective official and popular rejection of such sales.

This fatwa follows reports of escalating violence in the West Bank, including alleged Israeli military bulldozing of olive groves near Ramallah in recent weeks. Although the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not publicly confirmed these specific incidents, they have previously justified the removal of olive trees on security grounds, citing the prevention of potential ambushes against soldiers.

The olive harvest traditionally begins in early October and is a vital component of Palestinian agriculture. According to the Palestinian Authority’s Agriculture Ministry, olives account for roughly 8% of the Palestinian GDP and provide employment for more than 60,000 people. However, the PA reported that over 45,000 trees—including more than 26,000 olive trees—were cut down or damaged across the West Bank in the first half of 2026.

Reports have also surfaced of increased settler violence against Palestinian farmers, resulting in casualties. Among those killed recently was 44-year-old Ali Hassan Yusor al-Bazzari, as identified by the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In addition to these developments, an AI-generated video depicting multiple Israeli bulldozers allegedly destroying an olive grove was briefly posted by the official PA account before being deleted. Nevertheless, the imagery has circulated widely on social media platforms aligned with pro-Palestinian groups.

The tensions surrounding the olive harvest season highlight the broader challenges faced by Palestinian farmers amid ongoing conflict and disputes over land and resources in the West Bank.