Israeli settlers attack Palestinian homes, olive farmers in occupied West Bank

Israeli settlers attacked the homes of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank town of Yasuf, a local official told Palestinian news agency Wafa on Sunday.

Village council head Wa'el Abu Madi said dozens of settlers smashed windows and doors of the homes with stones.

In the al-Qanub area of Hebron governorate, settlers attacked Palestinian farmers and stole their olives.

Farmer Mohammed Abdul Hamid Shalaldeh was quoted by Wafa as saying that armed settlers forced him and other farmers to leave their olive fields and proceeded to steal their produce.

Shalaldeh added that Israeli forces had demolished tin houses and tents belonging to the families in a bid to expel them from the area.

Israeli settlers have carried out several attacks on Palestinians harvesting olives in recent weeks, since the beginning of the olive harvesting season in October.

Earlier this month, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported that Israelis had carried out 360 attacks over the past month, mainly around Nablus.

The attacks include the uprooting of 1,401 trees, blocking Palestinian farmers from accessing their lands and theft of olive crops.

Settlers have also stolen harvesting equipment and vehicles of Palestinians.

Israeli settlers and soldiers have stepped up attacks on Palestinians since the beginning of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023.

Israel forces and settlers have killed at least 760 Palestinians in the occupied territory since October 2023, and a further 6,300 have been wounded.

Over 11,600 Palestinians have been detained in that period, including journalists, children and former prisoners, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society.