Israeli Forces Block Palestinian Farmers from Olive Harvest in Deir Istiya.

Deir Istiya: Israeli occupation forces today prevented Palestinian farmers from harvesting olives in the town of Deir Istiya, located northwest of Salfit in the central West Bank. Local sources reported that Israeli troops stormed the Al-Qa’dah area north of the town, forcing farmers to leave their lands under threat of weapons and preventing them from completing their olive harvest. They claimed the area was designated as a closed military zone for 24 hours.

According to Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA, this incident marks the first time in over a year that farmers attempted to access their lands in this area, which has witnessed repeated assaults by Israeli army and colonists following the establishment of a colonial outpost in the area. Earlier, armed colonists attacked citizens in the Khallet Nashit area west of Deir Istiya while they were picking olives, attempting to force them to leave their lands under threat of violence.

Moreover, colonists defaced vehicles belonging to local residents
parked alongside the main road west of Salfit with racist slogans. Palestinian farmers have been facing daily assaults by Israeli occupation forces and colonists coinciding with the olive harvest season, resulting in significant financial losses and exacerbating their daily hardships under occupation.

Current estimates indicate that farmers may be unable to access around 80,000 dunums of olive-grove land due to threats from colonists and military presence, which could lead to a loss of approximately 15% of this year’s olive harvest. The olive harvest is a crucial period for many families in the area, and such actions have a dire impact on local livelihoods and food security.