The United Nations announced that the number of Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians working in olive harvesting in the occupied West Bank has already surpassed figures recorded during last year. This was stated by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, during his daily press conference in New York, where he reviewed the latest developments in the Middle East region.
Haq said that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the number of attacks targeting Palestinian farmers during the current season exceeded 200 attacks, compared to a total of 185 attacks recorded during the 2025 season. He added that these attacks resulted in the death of one Palestinian and injured more than 120 others, in addition to causing damage to more than 2,500 olive trees or saplings.
He pointed out that about 80 percent of these incidents occurred during the past two weeks. For his part, he clarified that UN humanitarian partners are providing equipment and other agricultural supplies to farmers, as well as monitoring restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on access to olive groves near settlements and those located behind the barrier extending along 712 kilometers.
Regarding the Gaza Strip, where the same agricultural season is taking place, Haq said that Israel does not allow the entry of necessary agricultural equipment into the Strip, while olive groves are being destroyed. He added that the ban on importing agricultural supplies, engine oils, and spare parts severely hinders agricultural and harvesting activities, as well as the operation of the few remaining olive presses.
Haq touched upon Israeli attacks on the area, noting that several humanitarian facilities were fired upon with small arms and subjected to Israeli artillery shelling on Wednesday. He clarified that reports indicated Israeli forces firing near a UN convoy, with no news of casualties. He stressed the need to protect humanitarian workers and facilities, just like all civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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