Israeli forces raided the town of Abu Dis, just east of occupied al-Quds, launching tear gas and sound grenades indiscriminately at people in the streets, sending panicked residents fleeing and forcing them to alter their routes to avoid the violence.

This assault coincides with a surge in attacks by settlers and the Israeli army across the occupied West Bank, with the United Nations reporting it has documented approximately 757 attacks carried out by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property in the first half of this year alone. 

The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that settlers are carrying out violent attacks against Palestinians in an environment defined by a near-total lack of accountability and protection for the vulnerable population.

158 assaults on olive harvesters

Meanwhile, the head of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Authority, Muayyad Shaaban, revealed that since the season began at the start of October, occupation forces and settlers have carried out 158 attacks on olive harvesters across West Bank governorates.

Of these 158 attacks, Shaaban specified that 17 were carried out by the Israeli army, while settlers were responsible for 141; assaults involved physical violence, arrests, and preventing farmers from accessing or moving freely on their land, such as in the Tubas Governorate.

He also pointed out that the olive harvest is being systematically and intentionally targeted by the occupation because of its national symbolism, the historical connection between Palestinians and their land, and its significant economic, social, and cultural importance.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, 41 separate attacks by settlers on Palestinian olive harvesters in the West Bank have been documented this month.