SALFIT: Settlers from the "Rafafa" settlement have reportedly prevented the Abu Ali family from picking olives in Deir Istiya, marking the fifth consecutive attack on the family during this year's harvest season. The incidents have heightened tensions in the area, which is located northwest of Salfit, as the settlers continue to assert their presence on disputed lands. According to Maan News Agency, the settlers were dressed in Israeli army uniforms and were armed when they confronted the family of citizens Rifaat and Ahmed Abu Ali. The settlers allegedly stole five ladders, mattresses, and a donkey, while also threatening the family and forcing them to leave, citing the area as a closed military zone. The settlers provided a map to back their claim. Firas Diab, the mayor of Deir Istiya, noted that this is not an isolated incident. He stated that the southern part of the town has been a target of increased settler activity. Farmers such as Hazem Abu Hijleh, Abdul Jaber Aql, Ayman Zaghloul, and the family of the late Yousef Aql have faced similar expulsions, assaults, and gunfire while harvesting olives. Diab emphasized that the settlers declared the region as a closed military zone, providing maps to reinforce their actions. The recent string of attacks has marked an escalation in settler-related incidents during this year's olive harvest in Deir Istiya, which is traditionally a critical period for local farmers. This is the first reported attack of its kind in the area during the current olive season.
Menu
Menu
