The occupied West Bank is witnessing a new wave of Israeli settler and army aggression, with the United Nations confirming that at least 757 attacks have been launched by settlers against Palestinians and their property this year alone.

The surge in settler violence comes amid intensified raids by occupation forces, especially targeting Palestinians during the sacred olive harvest season — a time deeply rooted in Palestinian identity, economy, and culture.

In the latest incident, Israeli occupation forces stormed the town of Abu Dis, east of occupied al-Quds (Jerusalem), firing tear gas and sound grenades indiscriminately into residential areas. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as residents fled in panic, forced to alter their routes to avoid the heavy assault.

This brutal raid forms part of a broader campaign of terror waged by Israeli settlers and soldiers across the West Bank. According to a report by the United Nations, the first half of 2025 alone saw nearly 757 documented settler attacks, highlighting what UN officials describe as “an environment defined by near-total impunity.”

A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres denounced the ongoing violence, stressing that settlers continue to assault Palestinians “in a context of almost complete absence of accountability and protection” for the occupied population.

The head of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Authority, Muayyad Shaaban, revealed that since the olive harvest began at the start of October, there have already been 158 separate attacks on Palestinian farmers. Of these, 141 were committed by settlers, while 17 involved direct participation by Israeli occupation forces. These attacks include physical assaults, arbitrary arrests, destruction of olive trees, and the systematic denial of access to agricultural lands — particularly in areas like Tubas, Nablus, and Hebron.

Shaaban emphasized that the olive harvest is being deliberately targeted by the occupation because of its profound symbolism. “The olive tree is a symbol of steadfastness and resistance — it represents the deep historical and spiritual bond between Palestinians and their land,” he said. “By attacking harvesters and uprooting trees, the occupation seeks to sever that bond and erase Palestinian presence.”

Israeli daily Haaretz also confirmed that at least 41 settler attacks against olive harvesters were recorded just in the month of October, underscoring the relentless nature of this campaign.

For Palestinians, the olive tree is more than a crop — it is a living testament to survival, resilience, and faith in the land. Yet, as Israeli settlers continue their campaign of terror under military protection, thousands of Palestinian families face yet another season of violence and dispossession.

Observers warn that this escalation, coupled with the Israeli army’s continued raids and land confiscations, forms part of a wider strategy to expand settlements and tighten apartheid control over the West Bank. Despite mounting international condemnation, the settlers and soldiers involved in these crimes remain shielded by complete impunity, while Palestinians are left to defend their lives, livelihoods, and heritage against an occupation determined to erase them. (ILKHA)