UN: Israeli Attacks on Olive Harvest Another Tool of Displacement and Plunder

New York, October 21 (Petra) — The UN Human Rights Office said on Wednesday that the Israeli attack on the olive harvest season is "another tool of displacement and plunder" that adds to the suffering of Palestinian communities, calling on all states and donors to act urgently to protect it.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that at least 160 attacks carried out by Israeli settlers linked to the olive harvest season were recorded in the West Bank during the first two weeks of this month, mostly "under the protection of, or with the participation of, Israeli forces."

The office noted that an international journalist was attacked while covering the olive harvest season, and European diplomatic representatives were attacked while visiting a Palestinian village in the past few days, pointing out that settlers used "live ammunition, deliberately set fires, destroyed olive trees and groves, including ancient trees, damaged Palestinian property, and stole harvested olive crops and agricultural equipment."

The office affirmed that thousands of Palestinian farmers cannot reach their olive trees to harvest the crop due to escalating Israeli restrictions, while "settlers illegally present in the occupied land are allowed to access Palestinian land and harvest their crops."

-- (Petra) M D/M F/H H

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