As the olive harvest begins, ILC stands with its member, the Palestinian Farmers Union (PFU), in calling for the urgent protection of Palestinian farmers, their families and their land.
Urgent call from the Palestinian Farmers Union
The Palestinian Farmers Union calls upon the international community, United Nations agencies, diplomatic missions, international human rights and humanitarian organisations, farmers' unions and solidarity movements to take urgent action to protect Palestinian farmers, their families and their agricultural lands during the 2026 olive harvest season.
The killing of 44-year-old Ali Hassan Yusr al-Bazzari in Ramin on 7 October, amid an attack involving Israeli settlers and forces, comes following several incidents affecting farmers and agricultural lands in the area. In the days preceding his death, farmers in Ramin reported assaults while harvesting, theft of olives and agricultural equipment, and settlers entering agricultural lands and taking olive crops.
Israeli bulldozers uprooting olive trees and levelling agricultural land in Arraba, south of Jenin, September 2026.
September 2026 in numbers
PFU's monthly monitoring report documents, across the West Bank:
- At least 10,754 olive trees uprooted, cut, broken, burned or otherwise damaged
- 2,450 settler violations
- 3 Palestinians killed and 165 farmers injured
- 78 homes and 27 vehicles burned
- 450 dunums confiscated and 1,355 dunums bulldozed
- 615 livestock and poultry stolen or killed
- 7 new settlement outposts
- US$6,139,880 in estimated economic losses
In Deir Nidham, northwest of Ramallah, residents watch as olive trees are uprooted by settlers, who then bring their flocks onto the land.
The three Palestinians killed during September were identified as Omar al-Na’san, Khalil Abu Alia and Omar Mohammad Kamel.
"The destruction of mature olive trees and perennial crops represents a long-term loss of productive capacity, affecting future harvests, household income and the continuity of agricultural livelihoods." Palestinian Farmers Union, September 2026 monitoring report
PFU calls for:
International protection
Immediate international protection for Palestinian farmers, herders and rural communities facing settler attacks.
An end to violence and land seizure
Urgent measures to halt settler violence, land confiscation, agricultural bulldozing and settlement expansion.
Accountability
Effective accountability measures for attacks against Palestinian farmers, civilians and the destruction of agricultural livelihoods.
Targeted sanctions
Targeted sanctions and travel restrictions against individuals credibly implicated in settler violence and serious violations.
Settlement products
Measures to prevent settlement products from entering international markets, consistent with applicable international and domestic law.
Compensation for farmers
Emergency compensation and rehabilitation for farmers who have lost trees, crops, livestock, agricultural structures and equipment.
Water and infrastructure
Immediate protection and restoration of water sources, wells, irrigation networks and agricultural infrastructure.
Food security and access to land
International support to safeguard Palestinian food security, rural livelihoods and farmers’ continued access to their land.
ILC stands with PFU and with Palestinian farmers, and calls for international humanitarian law to be respected and upheld.
All statistics in the report were collected and verified by PFU through its network of field coordinators across the West Bank.
Contact: Palestinian Farmers Union, info@pafu.ps, +972 02 240 0792
Download the full report
