Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinian farmers and stole their olive harvest and agricultural equipment in the occupied West Bank village of al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, south of Nablus, on Saturday, marking the third consecutive day of attacks targeting Palestinians during the olive harvest season.

According to local sources, settlers attacked farmers as they gathered olives in the Wadi Abwein area, west of the village, as well as in the Sariya and al-Khan areas to the east. The assailants seized the harvested olives and harvesting tools and forced the farmers to abandon their agricultural lands.

The attacks have deprived Palestinian families of their agricultural produce and disrupted a vital seasonal activity that provides income for thousands of households across the occupied West Bank.

The assault in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya comes amid a wider wave of settler violence against Palestinian farmers during this year's olive harvest season.

On Friday, settlers also stole olives from Palestinian-owned land in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya and the nearby village of Aqraba, while a Palestinian vehicle was attacked and overturned in Qabalan, south of Nablus, according to local reports.

Other incidents reported on Saturday included attacks on olive harvesters in several West Bank villages, with Palestinians suffering injuries, being prevented from accessing their land and, in some cases, having their crops and agricultural equipment seized.

The olive harvest is a major source of income for Palestinian families and holds deep cultural and historical significance, reflecting generations of connection to their land.

Repeated attacks, theft of crops, destruction of olive trees and restrictions on access to agricultural areas threaten both farmers' livelihoods and their ability to maintain their lands.

The latest incidents have renewed concerns over the safety of Palestinian farmers working in the occupied West Bank, particularly during the harvest season, when families depend on gathering their crops for income and food.

Palestinians and rights advocates have repeatedly called for effective measures to protect farmers, prevent settler violence and ensure that residents can access and cultivate their agricultural lands without intimidation or dispossession. (ILKHA)