In its latest report on the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Territories, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that since the beginning of the current crisis on October 7, Israeli settlers have killed seven Palestinians in the West Bank.

October marks the beginning of the olive harvesting season, to access olive groves located within or near settlements or in closed military zones, Palestinian farmers must receive permits from Israeli authorities, OCHA recalled.

However, since October 7, the olive procedures have been halted and for such a reason a great number of families are at risk of losing their income throughout the year.

OCHA stated that “the already high level of Israeli settler violence during the first nine months of 2023 increased significantly since the escalated hostilities.”

In addition to access restrictions, Israel imposed multiple additional limitations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

In this regard, OCHA detailed that the Israeli military authorities closed roads and erected more checkpoints and roadblocks. Last week, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem) accused settlers of increasing their attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank with the stated aim of driving them off their land.

There are those who take advantage of the situation, ahead of media attention in the Gaza Strip in order to act as militias and harm Palestinians in the West Bank.

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