Ramallah:Several Palestinians and foreign activists suffered tear gas inhalation during an attack by Israeli settlers in the town of Beit Ur al-Tahta, west of Ramallah, on Tuesday morning. The settlers, under the protection of Israeli forces, targeted individuals who were harvesting olives on their mountainous farmland.
According to Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA – English, the settlers had previously seized the land and prevented the owners from accessing it. The attack also affected foreign activists who were supporting Palestinian residents in their effort to reach the land and harvest their olive crop.
The assault included physical attacks on Palestinians and activists, as well as the firing of tear gas canisters and live ammunition. A group of foreign activists was forced to leave the area, while another group was detained, leading to heightened tensions in the region.
Since early morning, Palestinian farmers harvesting olives in the town of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah, and the villages of Deir Jarir and Ein Yabrud, east of the city, have also faced repeated attacks by Israeli settlers.
Figures from the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission indicate that, as of October 4, Israeli forces and settlers have conducted 62,916 attacks against Palestinians, their land, and property across the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, since October 7, 2023. Out of these, 48,174 attacks were carried out by Israeli forces and 14,742 by settlers.