Local sources reported that a group of armed extremist settlers of the Aliyea illegal settlement cut dozens of Olive trees that belong to residents of Qaryout village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.The settlers cut at least 120 olive trees that belong to twelve residents of the Qaryout village.
Eyewitnesses reported that the settlers used chainsaws to cut the trees.
The orchards that have been attacked are located near a number of illegal Israeli settlements.
Today, Tuesday October 8, marks the beginning of the olive harvest season in Palestine, especially in orchards that became totally isolated behind the Annexation Wall.
Settler attacks against Palestinian villagers and orchards usually escalate during the olive harvest season.
On Saturday, Palestinian medical sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, reported that dozens of Palestinian villagers, picking their olive trees west of Hebron, were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation after being attacked by Israeli soldiers.
The soldiers arrived at the scene as extremist settlers were harassing the residents and trying to force them out of their orchards, and used force against the residents instead of removing the settlers, eyewitnesses reported.
Dozens of attacks took place last year during the olive harvest season leading to several injuries, and in many cases extremist Israeli settlers picked the Palestinian orchards and took the harvest. Settlers also torched dozens of trees.
