As Israeli settler violence in the West Bank continues to escalate, Palestinian, Israeli and international activists are mobilising to protect Palestinian farmers during this year’s olive harvest. Standing Together is one of the organisations taking part in the solidarity campaign Protect the Harvest.
The olive harvest is one of the most important times of the year for many Palestinian families. Olive trees have been cultivated for generations and represent both a vital source of income and a symbol of families’ deep roots in their land. Yet increasing numbers of farmers are being prevented from reaching their groves through threats, violence and attacks by Israeli settlers.
According to the Israeli human rights organisation Yesh Din, 672 incidents of settler violence were documented between 27 September and 22 October 2026. These included physical assaults, property damage and attempts to prevent Palestinians from harvesting their olives.
Protect the Harvest – Solidarity in Action
At the invitation of Palestinian communities, an international coalition has been formed to support this year’s olive harvest. Through the Protect the Harvest campaign, organisations including Standing Together, Rabbis for Human Rights and Breaking the Silence are working alongside international volunteers.
Activists accompany Palestinian farmers into their fields, help with the harvest and seek to prevent attacks through their presence. They also document abuses and demonstrate practical solidarity with Palestinian families.
But this solidarity work is itself facing repression. On 21 October, Israeli security forces detained approximately 90 Israeli and international volunteers near Bethlehem. The international participants were released without charges, while several Israeli activists were temporarily banned from returning to the West Bank.
Among those detained was the American politician Brad Lander. After being released with a warning, he emphasised that Palestinians face far more serious consequences every day than international volunteers. For Palestinian farmers, this is not only about being able to bring in this year’s harvest, but also about their right to move freely, provide for their families and remain on land they have cultivated for generations. Lander described the detentions as another element of a policy aimed at driving Palestinians from their land.
Despite threats and arrests, the solidarity efforts continue. Through their presence, Standing Together and the other organisations seek to help protect Palestinian farmers and defend their right to cultivate their land.
For international volunteers, the olive harvest is an act of solidarity. For Palestinian families, it is about their livelihoods, their security and their future.
