This year’s olive harvest in the West Bank has been overshadowed by escalating violence, with over 150 recorded attacks on farmers across the region. In Deir Nidham, northwest of Ramallah, three people were injured on Saturday when armed intruders forced their way into olive groves, striking farmers and driving them from their land. Local residents report that the attacks were followed by a military presence, which led to the detention of a 31-year-old man from the village.

Observers note that such incidents are part of a broader pattern of aggression coinciding with the ongoing genocidal war in Gaza, which has claimed more than 1,000 lives and left over 10,000 wounded in the West Bank alone. Activists describe how heavily armed settlers, often accompanied or protected by soldiers, carry out assaults with near-total impunity, leaving communities under constant threat. Human rights groups highlight that these actions are intended to disrupt daily life and pressure families to abandon their land.

Olive cultivation, a cornerstone of local economy and culture, supports tens of thousands of families. Yet this season, farmers across Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Nablus have faced attacks involving pepper spray, dogs, beatings, and the destruction of property. The cumulative effect is not only physical danger but the erosion of livelihoods and community stability. With over 700,000 settlers residing in more than 250 settlements across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, incidents of violence and displacement continue unabated, raising profound concerns over the long-term viability of rural life in the region.