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WAFA reported that Israeli soldiers stormed the village northwest of Ramallah on Saturday and targeted residents harvesting olives on their land. The forces fired tear gas canisters in an effort to drive the workers away, leaving a number of them struggling to breathe. Local sources told the agency that journalist Issam al-Rimawi was struck in the thigh by a rubber-coated metal bullet while covering the incident. Al-Rimawi received treatment after the injury.
The Palestinian news agency WAFA said attacks on farmers and olive harvesters have increased since the start of the harvest season in the occupied West Bank. Such operations frequently include physical confrontations, limits on access to fields and destruction of trees or crops. The pattern endangers income for thousands of Palestinian families reliant on olive production for their livelihoods.
A UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs assessment found more than 1,600 settler-related incidents causing casualties or property damage across the West Bank between January and August 2026. The figure reflects an average of 6.7 attacks daily, higher than the rate recorded in 2025. The agency noted the violence has affected nearly 275 communities during that period.
WAFA indicated that similar disruptions occurred elsewhere on the same day, with forces blocking access to groves in other Ramallah-area locations. Palestinian officials have repeatedly called for international intervention to protect farmers during the critical agricultural period. Olive oil remains a cornerstone of the local economy in the territory.
The Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission documented at least 19 settler attacks on Friday alone, many aimed at olive harvesters and their equipment. Incidents included tree uprooting, crop theft and assaults on workers across multiple villages. Palestinian agricultural authorities project the current season could yield around 21,000 tonnes of olive oil if disruptions remain limited.
