Full Breakdown
Deadly Settler Attack During West Bank Olive Harvest
By Drooid · · How we work
The Fatal Incident Near Burqa
On October 7, a 44-year-old Palestinian farmer was killed while olive-picking near Burqa, north of Nablus. The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the victim as Ali Hassan Yusor al-Bazzari (also reported as Ali Hassan al-Bazari). Witnesses said Israeli soldiers were present and settlers opened fire; the Israeli military said its troops responded to a report of a rock-throwing incident but did not specify who fired the fatal shot. The ministry reported nine injured, while the Palestinian Red Crescent said twelve were wounded, including three with live-fire injuries.
Background to the Olive Harvest Season
The annual olive harvest, from October to November, is a key source of income for Palestinians. Settler attacks on farmers have risen this season, with the Palestinian Authority noting at least 30 Palestinians killed in the West Bank this year and over 45,000 olive trees damaged or cut down in early 2026.
Scope of Recent Settler Violence
- OCHA recorded over 1,100 Palestinians injured in settler-related attacks from the start of the year to early September 2026, a sharp increase from previous years.
- More than 1,300 incidents have been linked to settler attacks, affecting roughly 250 Palestinian communities.
- On October 6 in Aqraba, a photographer was beaten and a Palestinian shot in the foot; settlers reportedly obstructed ambulance crews (The Guardian, The Strait Times).
Official Statements & Responses
- The Israeli military said soldiers fired after a rock-throwing report but did not clarify the source of the fatal bullet.
- Shadi Abu Omar of the Burqa Village Council said the area is Area B under the Oslo Accords, that settlers arrived in a vehicle, opened fire, and bound the harvesters, with the deceased shot in the back.
- The Palestinian Red Crescent reported Israeli forces detained three paramedics, confiscated ambulance keys, and blocked medical teams from reaching the wounded.
- AFP global news director Phil Chetwynd condemned the assault on journalists and called for a full investigation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We strongly condemn yet another serious attack on journalists trying to report on events in the West Bank and demand a full investigation. It is unacceptable that journalists can be beaten and robbed by armed settlers in front of Israeli security forces who made no attempt to intervene,” — Phil Chetwynd, global news director
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Victim’s name: Reported as “Ali Hassan Yusor al-Bazzari,” “Ali Hassan al-Bazari,” and “Ali Hassan Yasser al-Bazari.”
- Number injured: Reports range from nine to twelve.
- Perpetrator of the fatal shot: The health ministry did not specify whether settlers or soldiers fired; the Israeli military cited a rock-throwing report but gave no detail on the lethal round.
- Presence of soldiers: Witnesses say a dozen soldiers were nearby but did not intervene; the Israeli military has not commented on the lack of intervention.
What’s Next
The Israeli military announced an investigation into the Aqraba incident involving the AFP photographer. UN OCHA continues to monitor settler-related violence throughout the harvest season, and Palestinian authorities have called for greater protection of farmers and journalists.