Settlers attack Palestinians harvesting olives across West Bank
At least four Palestinians have been killed since the olive harvest began in October. More than 100 have been injured.
Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinian villages across the occupied West Bank, beating residents and setting olive trees and cars alight. The Palestinian Red Crescent treated six injured people in two attacks on Friday in Abu Falah near Ramallah.
A 63-year-old woman and 40-year-old man were taken to hospital. Israel made new rules that stop Palestinians from working in Area C. Area C is under Israeli security control.
Most of the territory's farmland is in Area C. Since the harvest started in early October, Palestinian officials say settlers damaged thousands of trees. The cost is hundreds of thousands of dollars.
An Israeli monitoring group recorded at least 170 settler attacks since late September. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has been blamed for encouraging the violence through rapid settlement growth.
Why it mattersThe attacks threaten Palestinian livelihoods during a key annual income season. They also reflect widening violence in the occupied West Bank.
AustraliaAustralia has condemned Israeli settlement expansion; the escalating violence deepens tensions in a conflict many Australians follow closely.
Corroborated byperthnow.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
