Israeli settlers harvest olives on Palestinian land, sparking violence

Settlers harvest olives on Palestinian land

Video shared by Israeli settler groups shows two men using long wooden sticks to bash an olive tree and knock olives to the ground in an olive grove near the village of Qaryut, 200 metres from Palestinian homes. The men, identified as Avichai Suissa and another settler, are part of an illegal settlement outpost on private Palestinian property. Suissa, sanctioned by the European Union, United Kingdom and previously by the United States, runs a farm on the outpost and claims the goal is to rebuild and expand the farm to prevent it from falling into “enemy hands”.

Restrictions on Palestinian farmers

Palestinian activist Bashar Qaryouti reports that the land belongs to residents of Qaryut who have not been able to reach it since the Gaza war began in October 2023. A few months ago, farmers tried to plough the land but the army stopped them. Qaryouti says the army recently declared the area a closed military zone, which has led settlers to target other olive groves. The Israeli Rights Group Yesh Din documented 109 incidents of violence directly related to the harvest in 75 Palestinian communities between September 27 and October 6, averaging 11 incidents per day.

Violence during the harvest season

The harvest season in October has become a source of fear for Palestinians. On Wednesday, armed Israeli settlers on tractors raided lands between the villages of Ramin and Burqa, opening fire on farmers. Ali Bazzari, a 44-year-old farmer, was killed while attempting to pick olives. Witnesses say the Israeli army prevented ambulances from reaching the wounded, forcing Palestinians to carry the injured to hospitals.

Cultural impact

Palestinians describe the olive harvest as a tradition rooted in collective picking, singing, and shared meals, known as “ouneh.” Settlers are increasingly attempting to adopt these rituals while pushing Palestinians out of the area. Videos of settlers pressing olives and inviting Israelis to “join in” the experience are circulating, which Palestinians say disregards the land’s ownership and attempts to appropriate the harvest season.