AL-ZAWAYDA, Gaza: The olive harvest, a cornerstone of Palestinian life, faces severe challenges this year due to the ongoing war in Gaza and settler violence in the West Bank.
In Gaza, farmers like Rami Abu Asad continue harvesting despite the fear of Israeli airstrikes. The conflict has devastated agricultural areas, with 68% of Gaza’s farmlands damaged and a significant decline in olive tree numbers.
Agricultural engineer Jamal Abou Shaouish expects a drastic drop in this year’s olive production, from 40,000 tonnes in previous years to just 15,000 tonnes. Rising fuel shortages and destruction have worsened the situation, driving up the cost of processing olives.
In the West Bank, Palestinian farmers face the constant threat of settler attacks. Khaled Abdallah, a farmer near the Beit El settlement, decided not to harvest his olives this year due to safety concerns. The lack of protection from rights organizations and diminished coordination with Israeli groups has left farmers increasingly vulnerable. Olive groves, crucial to the region’s economy and culture, have become battlegrounds over land access.
