Israeli forces block farm roads as settlers damage olive trees in West Bank

Israeli forces blocked agricultural roads in western Deir Ballut in the Salfit district of the central West Bank on Thursday, while settlers damaged olive trees and agricultural property in the nearby town of Kafr Al-Dik, according to local sources.

The sources said Israeli bulldozers placed earth barriers across several agricultural roads in Deir Ballut, preventing farmers from reaching their land.

In Kafr Al-Dik, settlers targeted agricultural property belonging to farmer Ali Abdullah Qassem in the northern part of the town.

They broke and damaged olive trees, tampered with the fruit and damaged an agricultural room on the property, the sources said.

The incidents occurred during the olive harvest season, amid continued reports of settler attacks on Palestinian farmers and agricultural land across the occupied West Bank.

On Wednesday, settler attacks in the areas of Burqa and Sahl Ramin resulted in the killing of Ali Hassan Yasser Al-Bazzari, 44, and injuries to 16 other people.

Settlers also attacked Palestinian olive harvesters in Abwein, north of Ramallah, and Al-Laban Al-Sharqiya, south of Nablus.

According to local sources, settlers, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, attacked harvesters and forced them to leave their land in the eastern and northern parts of Abwein and the western and northern parts of Al-Laban Al-Sharqiya. They also attacked a farmer’s vehicle.