Violent clashes erupted across several Palestinian villages in the northern West Bank on Friday as groups of Israeli settlers attacked olive farmers during the peak of the annual harvest season. The assaults, which included burning olive trees and vehicles, beating villagers, and firing live ammunition, affected at least eight villages where thousands of Palestinian families rely on olive groves for their livelihood.
In the village of Abu Falah, approximately 80 masked and armed settlers descended from a hilltop above the groves, using slingshots, rocks, and in some cases, firearms against villagers who had gathered to pick olives, a cultural tradition dating back generations. Witnesses said some settlers carried gas canisters to ignite fires, causing widespread destruction to trees. Farmer Moutaz Abdelhadi described the attacks as an effort to force Palestinians off their land.
Earlier that day, in Turmus Ayya, settlers reportedly burned three cars and physically assaulted farmers, according to local residents. Mayor Nawaf Zghoul stated that the settlers ambushed the villagers and left extensive damage in their wake. Palestinian council members also reported that Israeli soldiers fired live rounds at an unarmed village council member, Abdel Jaber Hassan, during confrontations following the attacks. The military maintained that shots were fired in response to an individual advancing toward troops with a sharp object, though villagers disputed this claim, saying Hassan was carrying only harvesting tools.
Among those injured was Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine, who was reportedly beaten for about 10 minutes by settlers while covering the events in Abu Falah. Levine credited her press-marked vest and helmet with preventing more severe injuries. Both her employer and the Foreign Press Association condemned the attack and called for an investigation. The U.S. State Department also condemned the violence and stressed the importance of accountability.
Local health officials reported at least 18 injuries across multiple villages, while the Palestinian Health Ministry cited four deaths and over 100 injuries since the olive harvest began earlier this month. Human rights organizations report a surge in settler violence this year, with hundreds of incidents documented in relation to the harvest. The United Nations’ humanitarian office has recorded more than 1,600 attacks in the West Bank from January through August.
Israeli rights groups and activists allege that the military has often failed to protect Palestinians or intervene to prevent violence, with some accusing soldiers of tacitly supporting settler aggression. Israeli activist Jonathan Pollak, who accompanied farmers during the harvest, accused troops of standing “shoulder-to-shoulder” with settlers during the attacks.
The escalating violence is occurring against the backdrop of Israel’s upcoming national election scheduled for October 27, with observers noting a connection between the intensifying settler attacks and the political climate under the current far-right government.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence but characterized the incidents as involving a small number of fringe youths and questioned the roles of Palestinians and activists, describing the situation as a clash between small groups rather than a widespread campaign. His office cautioned against demonizing the hundreds of thousands of Jewish Israeli residents in the West Bank.
The olive harvest season remains a flashpoint in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the recent attacks highlighting deep tensions over land, security, and rights in the occupied territories.