Israeli Forces Arrest 36 Palestinians Amid Settler Harvest Violence
Israeli forces arrested 36 Palestinians in West Bank raids as settlers launch a violent campaign against farmers during the olive harvest season.
The Israeli military arrested 36 Palestinians during raids across the occupied West Bank on October 22, 2026. Operations targeted several regions, including Jenin, where 10 people were detained, as well as Nablus, Jerusalem, and the Hebron governorate. During these operations, the military briefly detained Brad Lander, a U.S. Democratic congressional candidate volunteering with local farmers.
Simultaneously, a wave of settler violence has targeted Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest, which officials describe as the most violent season in recent history. The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission documented 17 attacks involving crop theft and the burning of trees. Reports indicate at least three Palestinians have died in recent weeks, including Ali Al-Bazari. Violence has also extended to international targets, including European officials and a Washington Post photojournalist.
Critics accuse the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of supporting settler expansion and ethnic cleansing, noting that military forces have frequently stood by during attacks or evicted farmers to benefit settlers. Palestinian officials estimate that 50 percent of olive land will be inaccessible this season due to intimidation and the creation of over 100 new outposts. The Prime Minister's office denies state sponsorship of the violence, with spokesman Doron Spielman characterizing the incidents as individual crime.
