West Bank: Tear Gas Targets Olive Farmers Amid Escalating Restrictions and Attacks

The village of Al-Mughayyir in the occupied West Bank witnessed severe tension as Palestinian families headed to their lands on one of the rare days permitted by the Israeli army to harvest olives. The harvesting took place under tight surveillance, with soldiers firing tear gas canisters near the farmers, who also found several of their trees damaged.

Strict Military Restrictions on Land

The village's roughly 3,000 residents suffer from severe restrictions on accessing their fields; out of a total area of 4,300 hectares, only about 100 hectares can be accessed under military permits that residents consider insufficient to care for and maintain the trees. The village's hardships also continue with the closure of its eastern entrance for more than two years.

Escalating Attacks Threatening Livelihoods

Pressures stemming from surrounding settlement outposts are mounting, with six village residents killed this year and 12,000 olive trees uprooted in 2025. These losses are part of a broader pattern affecting a large segment of Palestinians.

According to data released by the United Nations, approximately 377 attacks by settlers have been recorded since last September, resulting in one death and more than 200 injuries among Palestinians, in addition to damaging around 3,850 olive trees. Reports warn that these violations jeopardize the income of between 80,000 and 100,000 families who rely primarily on this seasonal crop.