Israeli settlers smash olive trees in Qaryut amid escalating West Bank tensions
Video from a settler group shows two men beating an olive tree with wooden sticks in a private grove near Qaryut, while Palestinian activists say the land belongs to local residents.
A video shared within Israeli settler networks shows two men using long wooden sticks to bash an olive tree in a grove located about 200 metres from Palestinian homes in the village of Qaryut, northern West Bank. The men, who identify themselves as settlers, cheer each other and refer to the outcome as “Pure Olive Oil,” although they do not actually harvest olives. Palestinian activist Bashar Qaryouti stresses that the land and trees belong to local residents, who have been unable to reach the area since the Gaza conflict began in October 2023.
The outpost, established over a year and a half ago, is managed by Avichai Suissa, a settler previously sanctioned by the EU, UK and US, and he uses such videos to raise funds for rebuilding the farm after it was dismantled by the Israeli army. Settlers have increasingly targeted olive groves during the harvest season, a period traditionally marked by communal gathering and cultural rituals for Palestinians, while the Israeli army has declared parts of the area a closed military zone, further limiting Palestinian farmers’ access.
Why it matters
The incident highlights growing settler aggression and land disputes that threaten Palestinian livelihoods and cultural traditions.
How this story developed
- Sep 1 EU debates ban on settlement products as Israeli forces raze West Bank homes
- Sep 13 US activists created a whistle‑blower hotline and warned firms could be targeted under anti‑BDS laws.
- Sep 14 British foreign secretary expected to announce a trade ban on settlement‑linked goods.
- Sep 18 The UN rights office issued a warning that the displacement of over 33,000 refugees from West Bank camps may amount to crimes against humanity.
- Sep 23 A man in his forties was seriously wounded when a vehicle rammed a police car at a checkpoint near Modi'in on the road to the West Bank.
- Sep 23 The checkpoint’s security personnel have been reinforced and an investigation launched.
- Sep 28 Ed Miliband told the Labour conference that the UK will act on Palestine, backing sanctions on Israeli settlements and supporting a two-state solution.
- Sep 29 Three teenagers were arrested in connection with the raid.
- Oct 3 Miliband pledged comprehensive sanctions and a ban on imports and services that support Israeli settlements.
- Oct 5 Labour MP Emily Thornberry called on Britain to defy Israel’s directive to close its consulate in East Jerusalem, calling the move illegal retaliation.
- Oct 6 Powell’s talks concluded without an agreement before the 30‑day deadline.
- Oct 6 Israeli forces used tear‑gas and briefly detained six journalists during the olive‑harvest confrontations.
- Oct 8 Consular staff removed the plaque and signage after the closure deadline passed.
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