Key facts
- Israeli settlers uprooted and damaged dozens of olive trees in Beita, south of Nablus.
- Al Jazeera reported at least 500 Palestinian olive trees were bulldozed near Jenin.
- Since 2020, over 120,000 olive trees have been damaged in the occupied West Bank.
- Settler violence against Palestinian property, including olive groves, has been frequent.
- Olive cultivation is a significant part of the Palestinian economy and cultural heritage.
Israeli settlers uprooted and damaged dozens of olive trees in the town of Beita, south of Nablus, according to the Palestinian Government Communication Center. This incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks on Palestinian agricultural lands.
Al Jazeera reported that Israel bulldozed at least 500 olive trees owned by Palestinians near Jenin in the occupied West Bank. Since 2020, at least 120,000 olive trees have been damaged, uprooted, or poisoned in the occupied West Bank.
During the first half of 2025, the UN Rights Office recorded 757 assaults by settlers that resulted in injury or damage to property. These attacks, which include the destruction of olive groves and crops, have drawn criticism from UN human rights chiefs and global condemnation.
Olive cultivation is deeply significant to Palestinians, dating back thousands of years. It is Palestine's most widely harvested crop, with around half of all agricultural land in the occupied Palestinian territories dedicated to it. In a good year, seasonal olive exports inject almost $200 million into the Palestinian economy, and approximately 100,000 families in the West Bank depend on income from the olive harvest. The olive tree is also a symbol of Palestinian resilience, known as 'sumud'.
Settler violence against Palestinian olive farmers has a long history, increasing in recent years. Many attacks occur with minimal pushback from Israeli authorities. The current escalation follows the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, which coincided with the start of the 2023 olive harvest season, leading to a spike in violence in the West Bank.