Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission: The occupation has carried out 407 attacks against olive pickers in the West Bank since last month

Occupied Al-Quds, (ST)-The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission revealed that the Israeli occupation forces and settlers have carried out 407 attacks against olive pickers in the West Bank since the beginning of the season at the beginning of last month.

The commission explained in a statement today, reported by WAFA, that the attacks were distributed between 120 attacks carried out by the occupation forces, 242 attacks by settlers, and 45 joint attacks. Most of the attacks were concentrated in Nablus with 160 attacks, followed by Salfit with 58, then Al-Khalil (Hebron) with 54, and the rest took place in various areas of the West Bank. They resulted in the martyrdom of two Palestinians and the detention of dozens.

The head of the Commission, Mu’ayyad Shaaban, pointed out that the current season witnessed an unprecedented escalation compared to previous years, as the attacks increased from 333 in the 2023 season to 407 this year, while the 2022 season recorded a total of 108 attacks, indicating that this escalation comes in the light of the occupation’s policies supporting the settlers, arming them, and closing Palestinian agricultural fields with military decisions that included 100 closure orders.

Shaaban pointed out that the settlers’ attacks included destroying some lands and stealing agricultural equipment, which resulted in the destruction of 3,910 olive trees, with 29 tree cutting and breaking operations recorded.

Shaaban stressed that the occupation systematically targets the olive season as it represents a historical and emotional symbol of the relationship between the Palestinians and their land, and despite this, they were able to thwart the occupation’s plans through their steadfastness and insistence on completing the harvest, stressing that the occupation cannot sever the relationship that links the land to its owners.

Aourwa Deep