Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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October 22, 2025 Peace and security
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has warned of an alarming increase in violence by Israeli settlers and security forces against Palestinian farmers as the olive harvest season begins in the West Bank.
In the first half of 2025, 757 attacks by Israeli settlers resulting in casualties or property damage were recorded. This is 13 percent more than in the same period last year.
“Just two weeks into the harvest, we have witnessed brutal attacks by armed settlers against Palestinian men, women, children and foreign activists expressing solidarity with them,” said Ajit Sungai, head of the OHCHR office in the occupied Palestinian territory, on Wednesday.
Crop loss, land destruction
According to OHCHR, during the 2023 harvest season, approximately 9,600 hectares of olive groves remained uncultivated, resulting in losses of over $10 million for Palestinian farmers. This trend continued into 2024.
"Direct land destruction is intensifying," Sungai emphasized. "Settlers are burning plantations, cutting down olive trees with chainsaws, and destroying homes and agricultural infrastructure."
According to the UN, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since October 2023. Thousands of families have been forced to flee their homes due to attacks, restrictions on movement, and house demolitions.
The economic foundation of rural communities
"The olive tree here is more than just a tree," Sungai noted. "It represents the livelihood and traditions of our ancestors, resilience and economics, and a historical thread connecting Palestinians to the land."
According to him, approximately 100,000 Palestinian families depend on the olive harvest for their livelihoods. Thus, these plantations represent "the economic foundation of rural communities."
Ajit Sungai warned that the surge in settler violence comes "against the backdrop of Israel's accelerated territorial acquisition," with officials openly declaring their intention to annex the entire West Bank.
He recalled that Israel is "legally obligated to end the occupation and reverse the annexation" and called on UN member states to exert maximum pressure to protect civilians and bring to justice those responsible for "decades of violations."
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