Israel arrests 36 Palestinians in the West Bank, attacks on farmers ramp up
Israeli forces have arrested 36 Palestinians during raids across the occupied West Bank, as attacks on Palestinian farmers and their lands during the olive harvest season ramp up.
The arrests occurred in multiple locations across the West Bank. In Jenin governorate, Israeli forces raided towns and villages on Thursday, arresting 10 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Prisoner's Society. In Tuqu, Hebron, former prisoner Shorok al-Badan was arrested along with five others.
Attack pattern
The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission documented 17 attacks by Israeli forces and settlers on Thursday against Palestinian farmers and their land during the olive harvest. These incidents occurred across multiple West Bank governorates including Hebron, Qalqilya, Nablus, Ramallah, Jenin and Salfit.
The attacks included assaults on farmers, preventing them from reaching their land, theft of crops and agricultural equipment, damage and burning of olive trees, as well as arrests, threats at gunpoint and live fire.
The pattern represents an escalation in attacks targeting the olive harvest and undermines Palestinians' ability to access and cultivate their land and maintain their livelihoods.
International attention
Israeli attacks on Palestinian farmers have garnered international attention and condemnation. US Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander was briefly detained on Wednesday by the Israeli military while volunteering to help Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the occupied West Bank.
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