Attachments
Since October 2023, West Bank Palestinian farmers have been repeatedly attacked, intimidated and threatened. These acts go beyond the resulting harm to the affected individuals and adversely affect the food security of the wider community.
Insecurity Insight’s documentation shows that the following incidents occurred in the West Bank between 7 October 2023 and 31 December 2024:
- Farmers were violently attacked or threatened on at least 276 reported occasions. Among others, the incidents involved Israeli settlers and/or Israeli security forces using firearms to “scare” or “harass” farmers in attempts to force them to leave their land, and farmers being physically assaulted and attacked – on occasions with crowbars.
- More than a third of the violent attacks on or threats against farmers occurred in the context of the olive harvest, and these incidents increased dramatically in October 2024 during the olive harvest season.
- The damaging, destruction, and uprooting of olive trees and theft of olives were reported in at least 215 incidents. Like the violent attacks on and threats against farmers, these incidents were most frequent in October 2024.
- Agricultural structures (e.g. sheds or small barns for storing agricultural equipment or fodder) were damaged, destroyed or demolished in at least 83 incidents.
- The theft of livestock, primarily sheep, was reported in at least 46 incidents. Several hundred animals were taken in some cases.
- Israeli settlers were responsible for the overwhelming majority of incidents. A smaller proportion were attributed to Israeli security forces, highlighting the links between community-driven violence and state involvement.
- The violence, coupled with severe restrictions on access to agricultural land for Palestinian farmers, has deprived farmers of their livelihoods, forcibly displaced communities, led to the adoption of negative coping strategies, and reduced food security.