Gaza Genocide25 October, 20253 min read
Israeli Settlers Attack Palestinian Olive Pickers with Sticks and Dogs in Occupied West Bank
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Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian olive pickers with sticks and dogs in multiple West Bank areas. Ten Palestinians were injured during settler attacks while harvesting olives in the occupied West Bank.
4 outlets told this the same way.
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Attacks on Palestinian Olive Pickers
Illegal Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinian olive pickers across the occupied West Bank with sticks and dogs, injuring farmers and destroying livelihoods. On October 23, 2025, attacks occurred in Aqraba near Nablus, Deir Nidham near Ramallah, and Duma. Settlers beat farmers, released dogs on them, vandalized trees, stole olives, and grazed livestock on private land.
“On October 23, 2025, multiple attacks by illegal Israeli settlers against Palestinian olive farmers occurred in the occupied West Bank, resulting in injuries to at least ten Palestinians.”
Israeli forces supported the assaults in some areas by restricting Palestinians’ access to their own groves, blocking village entrances, and arresting a youth. Separately on the same day, settlers injured three farmers in Wadi al-Hajj Issa, southern Nablus.
Soldiers also blocked Palestinians from reaching groves in nearby Duma. This surge in violence comes amid at least 158 settler attacks on olive pickers and groves in the West Bank during October 2025 alone.
West Bank Settler Violence Surge
The attacks are part of a documented increase since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023. Over 7,000 settler assaults have been recorded in the West Bank, including 158 targeting olive pickers this month. More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank alongside 2.7 million Palestinians.
Settlements are illegal under international law and fragment land intended for a future Palestinian state. The International Court of Justice has declared Israel’s occupation illegal and called for evacuating West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements. The Israeli military claims it cut more than 3,000 trees 'for security reasons,' a justification disputed by locals.
Harvest Disruptions and Restrictions
Settler tactics during the harvest are deliberate and destructive, including beatings with sticks, attacks with dogs, theft of olives, vandalism of trees, and grazing livestock to ruin crops. Israeli forces compounded the harm by restricting Palestinian access, blocking village entrances, and detaining at least one youth. Soldiers physically blocked farmers from reaching groves in Duma.
“In nearby Duma, Israeli soldiers blocked Palestinians from accessing their olive groves.”
These assaults directly target an economic lifeline, as the harvest is crucial income for families. This year’s output is estimated at only 15% of the average due to settler violence and Israeli restrictions.
Impact of West Bank Settlements
Over half a million Israelis live in West Bank settlements that international law considers illegal, fragmenting territory intended for a Palestinian state. The settlement enterprise entrenches domination beyond the immediate assaults. Local officials report that settlers and their livestock repeatedly invade private lands to strip olives and damage trees.
Israeli soldiers enforce access bans that restrict Palestinian movement. Since October 2023, there have been more than 7,000 recorded settler attacks, with 158 occurring this month alone targeting olive pickers. These attacks represent a sustained campaign that intensifies when Palestinians attempt to harvest their crops.
Escalation of Violence in Palestine
All three sources trace the escalation to the period after October 2023. Middle East Monitor ties the spike explicitly to the start of Israel’s war on Gaza. Anadolu Ajansı repeats the same timeframe while focusing on West Bank assaults.
“Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, over 7,000 settler attacks on Palestinians and their property have been recorded, including 158 targeting olive pickers this month alone.”
The Arab Weekly says the Gaza war was sparked by attacks led by Hamas and stresses that settler attacks have increased 13% compared with last year. Together they depict an intensifying campaign against Palestinian farmers during harvest season. This campaign is backed at times by Israeli forces that restrict access and detain Palestinians.