The key facts

  • Up to 100,000 Palestinian households depend on olives as a source of livelihood, Alakbarov said.
  • The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported 40 attacks and violations against farmers in a single day over the past weekend.
  • The Israeli army called the attack on diplomats near Taybeh a 'serious violent incident' but said the visit had not been coordinated.

UN on the olive harvest situation

The UN said on Thursday that repeated attacks and Israeli access restrictions are preventing Palestinians in the occupied West Bank from safely harvesting the olive crop. Official spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told a briefing that Acting Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov, together with diplomats from 13 member states, visited Jenin to learn about problems related to the olive harvest and the prolonged displacement of Palestinian communities.

Visit to Jenin and meetings with farmers

In the village of Arraba, the delegation heard from farmers about repeated settler attacks which, combined with Israeli access restrictions, undermine food security. Humanitarian partners described protective measures for olive pickers, including escorts to the groves and legal assistance to challenge Israeli restrictions. Alakbarov noted that the harvest season should be a time of celebration, but many Palestinians are denied the opportunity to safely gather their crop. According to Dujarric, he said that crimes against them must stop and that those responsible must be held accountable by the Israeli authorities.

Displaced residents of the Jenin camp

At a clinic in the town of Qabatiya, the diplomats met Palestinians who, since the beginning of 2025, have not been allowed by the Israeli authorities to return to the Jenin camp, where many of their homes were destroyed. Alakbarov stressed the need for additional funding to assist displaced Palestinians and called on the Israeli authorities to ensure their safe and dignified return.

Attack on the diplomatic delegation

The visit took place days after an attack on a delegation that included European diplomats and representatives of the Catholic Church near the town of Taybeh east of Ramallah — according to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry. Israeli Army Radio reported that seven masked attackers surrounded a diplomatic vehicle and smashed the window of Belgium's consular car, and that Israeli military and police arrived only three hours later. The Israeli army described the incident as a 'serious violent incident' but said the delegation had not coordinated the visit in advance and that no military personnel were present at the scene.

Rising number of attacks

According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, attacks have intensified since the olive harvest season began at the start of this month: over the past weekend, 40 attacks and violations against farmers, agricultural land and olive crops were recorded in a single day.