Israeli Settlers Attack Palestinians in West Bank Villages
Violence escalates during olive harvest season, injuring six and damaging property; new restrictions imposed on Palestinian farmers.
Callum Smith
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in multiple villages across the occupied West Bank on Friday.
Six people sustained injuries in two separate attacks in Abu Falah, outside Ramallah, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society confirmed. A 63-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man were hospitalized after being beaten.
At least 50 settlers descended on an olive grove, armed with slingshots, clubs, and later, automatic rifles, Andrey X stated. They reportedly battered one individual with clubs while she lay on the ground.
About a dozen settlers, dressed in black, charged down a hill near an outpost towards a field where Palestinians and activists harvested olives. Israeli forces fired tear gas into Palestinian fields to end the confrontation.
Andrey X stated soldiers shot tear gas before a group armed with assault rifles started firing live ammunition. The Israeli military confirmed it strongly condemns the incident, dispatching military and Border Police to the area, who used riot dispersal means.
Israel has imposed new rules on the olive harvest, prohibiting Palestinians from working in Area C. Settler violence against Palestinians has surged, with at least 170 attacks recorded since September 27 by monitoring group Yesh Din.
Yesh Din indicated that Settler violence against Palestinians has surged, with at least 170 attacks recorded since September 27 by monitoring group Yesh Din.
Yesh Din has recorded more than 230 harvest-related attacks since late September. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported over 1,600 attacks across the territory between January and August.
Thousands of olive trees have been damaged. Palestinian authorities report at least four Palestinians killed and over 100 injured in the past month.
The International Court of Justice has deemed Israel's occupation of the West Bank illegal. The UK announced plans to ban trade of goods produced within Israeli settlements.