Seven Palestinians abducted, three hurt in settler attacks on West Bank olive harvest

Centre · 1On Saturday 10 October, Israeli settlers abducted seven Palestinians and injured three others in attacks on olive harvesters across the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian media and witnesses cited by Anadolu Agency. 1 Centre · 1State-run Voice of Palestine radio reported that three farmers were abducted near Nahhalin in Bethlehem province, three Palestinians in Qaffin north of Tulkarm, and one farmer in Beit Imrin in Nablus province. It gave no details on their whereabouts, and their fate was not immediately known. 1 2 Centre · 1Witnesses told Anadolu that settlers assaulted three farmers south of Beita, who were taken to a local medical centre. In Aboud, northwest of Ramallah, the Al-Baidar rights organisation said settlers seized harvested olives and released livestock onto farmland. 1

Centre · 1Earlier that day the Palestinian Red Crescent said its teams treated 10 people after an attack by Israeli forces and settlers on olive pickers in Deir Abu Mashal: one with a live-fire injury, two hit by rubber bullets and seven assaulted. The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission counted 12 attacks on farmers by shortly before noon. 1 Centre · 1On Monday, Commission officials told Anadolu that abductions and arbitrary detentions of Palestinians have risen, particularly of farmers and rural communities. Amir Daoud said the Qaffin attack took place under Israeli army protection, and researcher Jamal Juma called the abductions part of a "systematic policy" targeting Palestinians in Area C. 2 Centre · 1Anadolu cited the UN OCHA, which said in May 2025 it had documented around 36 incidents since October 2023 in which settlers, some in military uniform, abducted or detained at least 50 Palestinians, including three children. It also cited a 24 September Al-Haq report describing an "increasing pattern" of abductions. 2

Centre · 1The Commission said more than 45,000 trees, including over 26,000 olive trees, were cut down or damaged in the West Bank in the first half of 2026. Official Palestinian figures put the settler population at about 750,000 across 194 settlements and 400 outposts. 1 Centre · 1The National, reporting from near Nablus on 14 October, said two Palestinians have been killed by settlers since farmers began heading to their groves in late September. Abdul Latif Al Bazzari said his cousin Ali Al Bazzari, 44, a father of four, was killed on 7 October when settlers shot at his family and beat them with metal and wooden objects. Eight people were injured, two by gunfire. 3 Centre · 1In Usarin, Warda Adeli, 63, was beaten by settlers about 10 days earlier, and one of her sons remains in intensive care in Nablus with a severe brain injury. The National noted that these attacks took place in Areas A and B, where the Palestinian Authority has full or partial control, whereas earlier harvests saw attacks concentrated in Area C. 3

Centre · 2The olive harvest season began on 20 September for pickling olives, and harvesting of oil varieties is scheduled to begin on 15 October. The National added that settlers are running social media campaigns encouraging theft of olives and that, with a good crop this year, the harvest is at risk. 2 3 Centre · 2The coverage relies on Palestinian sources and witnesses, and neither report includes a response from the Israeli army or government on the specific incidents. The National places the violence in the context of Israel's election campaign and the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying some Israelis speak of a loss of control in the West Bank while Palestinian farmers and Israeli activists dispute that. 1 3