Colonists attack farmers harvesting olives near Tulkarm

TULKARM: Israeli colonists attacked Palestinian farmers this afternoon while they were harvesting olives in the Ramin Valley, located east of Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank, forcing them to leave their lands under threat of violence.

Farmer Manal Zidan told WAFA that one of the assailants, dressed in military attire and armed, broke into the area and prevented them from continuing their work. He noted that the armed colonist brought his livestock to the fields in a provocative act against the farmers.

Zidan explained that this colonist had previously seized portions of the valley’s land and established a settlement outpost where he tends his animals. He regularly harasses farmers while they are working, compelling them to vacate the area.

This year’s olive harvesting season in the West Bank has seen repeated assaults from Israeli colonists and forces, including the burning, cutting, and theft of olive trees and crops, as well as preventing farmers from accessing their lands.

Earlier in the day, colonis
ts fired shots at participants in an event organized by the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, aimed at assisting farmers from the village of Kafr Labad in their olive harvesting efforts.

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA