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Israeli settler attacks on West Bank olive harvest hit record since 2006, UN says

By · Via Middle East Eye · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs documented hundreds of settler incidents alongside official movement limitations that damaged over 3,850 trees and saplings. This disruption poses severe economic threats to the tens of thousands of local families reliant on agricultural income. Simultaneously, humanitarian partners in Gaza warned that critical services risk shutdown due to strict import bans on essential maintenance equipment and machinery.

Key points

  • Settler violence combined with official access limitations is undermining agricultural yi…: Settler violence combined with official access limitations is undermining agricultural yields and threatening rural Palestinian livelihoods.
  • The scale of orchard destruction directly threatens the economic survival of tens of thou…: The scale of orchard destruction directly threatens the economic survival of tens of thousands of agrarian households.
  • Import bans on heavy machinery and generator spare parts pose an imminent threat to vital…: Import bans on heavy machinery and generator spare parts pose an imminent threat to vital humanitarian operations in Gaza.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said Israeli settlers have carried out a total of 377 attacks on olive harvest across the occupied West Bank since September, a record since 2006 when the UN began recording them.

In a statement, OCHA said that during these attacks, one Palestinian was killed by a settler, more than 200 Palestinians were injured, and over 3,850 olive trees and saplings were damaged or vandalised.

Combined with official Israeli restrictions on Palestinian access to groves, this has undermined the livelihoods of many by reducing the produce that Palestinians could collect, the statement read.

Food security partners estimate that 80,000 to 100,000 Palestinian families across the West Bank depend on the annual olive harvest for their livelihoods and income.

*Gaza: OCHA said restrictions continue to hamper aid to Gaza despite widespread humanitarian response.

Humanitarian partners warn that the entry of engine oil, spare parts, generators, heavy machinery and specialised equipment remain particularly restricted. This prevents the implementation of more sustainable shelter solutions and risks shutting down critical services if back-up…

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