2024 OLIVE HARVEST: PROTECTION RESPONSE

BACKGROUND

The olive harvest is a vital part of the West Bank’s agricultural economy and a deeply rooted symbol of Palestinian cultural identity and resilience. Beyond its economic significance, the olive tree represents a living connection to Palestinian heritage, sustaining a collective narrative of steadfastness and belonging. However, as the policies of the Government of Israel continue to impact land access and ownership through the expansion of settlements, restrictions on movement, and acts of violence, the harvest season is increasingly constrained by annexation and protection risks.

OBJECTIVES OF THE REPORT

In 2023, coinciding with hostilities in Gaza and a surge in violence, coercive policies, and rights violations across the West Bank, the olive harvest season all but collapsed. More than 96,000 dunums of olive-cultivated land across West Bank remained unharvested due to Israeli restrictions on Palestinian access – causing an estimated US$10 million financial setback for Palestinian farmers.1 In 2024 the protection environment continued to rapidly deteriorate with systematic patterns of violence, movement restrictions and deliberate obstruction of agricultural access, deepening the vulnerability of Palestinian communities. To mitigate these risks, the West Bank Protection Cluster partners used early warning and joint protection forecasting to develop a coordinated, anticipatory response for the 2024 olive harvest.

This report serves to:

•  Provide a comprehensive overview of the protection situation during the 2024 olive harvest.
• Document and analyze key trends and incidents of concern, including settler violence, excessive use of force, and access restrictions.
• Present the range of protection activities implemented by cluster partners.
• Capture lessons learned and best practices.
• Offer strategic recommendations for more robust protection planning, advocacy, and coordination in future harvests.