Olive Trees Targeted as Settler Attacks Escalate in West Bank

The start of the olive harvest in the West Bank has coincided with a marked escalation in settler attacks on Palestinian farmers, olive groves and homes across several areas.

The attacks include the burning and uprooting of olive trees, putting the groves at the centre of the violence as farmers begin gathering their crop.

Farmers themselves are also being targeted, adding to the risks surrounding a season that depends on access to agricultural land.

The escalation extends beyond the fields, with Palestinian homes coming under attack in different parts of the West Bank.

Religious justifications have accompanied the targeting of olive trees. The available account does not specify who advanced those arguments or detail the incidents in which they were invoked.