Palestinian olive farmers in the occupied West Bank are expressing growing concerns about violence as they approach this year’s harvest season, with some already harvesting their crops prematurely out of fear of attacks. The tensions have escalated ahead of Israel’s upcoming parliamentary elections on October 27, intensifying worries that settler-related violence may increase amid the political climate.
Abdellatif Bazzari, a Palestinian farmer near the village of Burqa, sustained injuries during a recent raid on his fields by a group of Israeli settlers. During the incident on October 7, his cousin, Ali Bazzari, was shot and killed by Israeli forces after settlers reportedly attacked the family while they were picking olives by hand. Abdellatif Bazzari said the army’s intervention prevented an ambulance from reaching his cousin promptly. He described his cousin’s death as a sacrifice metaphorically “irrigating the soil of Palestine with his blood.” Abdellatif fears returning to complete the harvest without military protection due to the threat of renewed violence.
The olive harvest holds significant economic and symbolic value for Palestinians, accounting for an estimated 15 percent of the West Bank’s agricultural GDP and representing a deep connection to the land. Many farmers in the region have chosen to begin harvesting earlier this year to protect their crops from anticipated settler aggression.
Palestinians have voiced concerns that the increasing frequency of settler attacks is linked to the upcoming elections. Abdellatif suggested that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is engaged in a tightly contested race, may be reluctant to restrain settlers as he seeks support from his right-wing base. Other Palestinians echoed fears that the electoral context could embolden settlers, leading to more frequent violent incursions during the harvest period.
Israeli authorities described the incident differently, stating that troops and border police were deployed after reports of rock-throwing that injured a settler. The military said a commander on the scene neutralized a person approaching with a suspicious object, labeling the individual a terrorist. Israeli officials also point to violence inflicted on settlers, highlighting incidents including the recent fatal shooting of a settler by a Palestinian assailant.
The olive harvest season typically involves extended family and community participation, and is often carried out manually. Palestinian farmers like Bazzari report that settlers have stolen agricultural equipment during raids, including ladders, rakes, and tarps essential for harvesting. This type of settler activity is part of a broader pattern associated with the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. More than 500,000 settlers currently reside in settlements deemed illegal under international law.
Human rights groups and Palestinian officials have documented a rise in settler violence against Palestinians, including physical assaults, property damage, and theft of olives. Reports indicate an average of six such attacks daily in the first half of 2026. Palestinian Authority officials have recorded hundreds of incidents involving settler interference with olive harvesting, even prior to the official onset of the season. Some rights organizations assert that these violent acts are part of a targeted effort to undermine Palestinian agricultural livelihoods and encourage displacement.
As the region prepares for the harvest to continue through November, Palestinians hope for greater security and a reduction in violence, while Israeli authorities stress the need to address security concerns on both sides amid a politically sensitive period.