WEST BANK, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), Farmers from the Al-Janazra family in the northern West Bank city of Halhul never expected that a full year of caring for their vineyards would end in devastating losses just days before the grape harvest, after Israeli settlers attacked one of the family’s vineyards.
The attack comes amid continued settler assaults on Palestinian farmland across the occupied West Bank, targeting crops and livelihoods as attacks on farmers and their property continue to escalate.
According to local sources, settlers destroyed approximately 4,000 kilograms of grapes in a vineyard owned by the Al-Janazra family in the Wadi Qaboun area of Halhul. The family described the loss as catastrophic, saying the crop had been cultivated over an entire year and was only days away from harvest.
Farmer Riyad Al-Janazra said family members maintain an almost constant presence in their vineyards because of the nearby Israeli settlement outpost and the repeated threats and attacks by settlers, according to the Sanad News Agency.
He said the targeted plot covers about 2.5 dunums. Parts of the land had previously been cut through by a settlement road that split the property in two, but the family continued cultivating and maintaining it despite the challenges.
Al-Janazra said the latest attack dealt a severe blow to the family, which relies on grape production as its primary source of income.
He noted that about 50 family members depend on the land for their livelihood, adding that settlers destroyed the crop just before harvest, causing significant financial losses and wiping out months of hard work.
Al-Janazra called on the Palestinian government to intervene, support affected farmers, and compensate them for their losses, stressing that the family would remain on its land despite the repeated attacks.
His son, Yousef Riyad Al-Janazra, said settlers create problems for farmers in the area almost daily, adding that the latest attack came after a full year of work and waiting for the harvest.
“We will never abandon our land, no matter how great the pressure becomes,” he said.
Farmer Raafat Al-Janazra said Wadi Qaboun is known for producing high-quality grapes. He noted that settler attacks have extended beyond destroying crops to include cutting irrigation pipelines supplying the vineyards and vandalizing water tanks.
He said these attacks are part of a broader effort to seize Palestinian agricultural land and drive its owners away, emphasizing that farmers continue to remain steadfast despite repeated assaults and the lack of effective protection.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of settler attacks targeting Palestinian farmers across the occupied West Bank. Such attacks include uprooting trees, burning crops, stealing produce, and damaging irrigation networks and water reservoirs.
Settlers have also physically assaulted farmers and prevented them from accessing their land, particularly in areas near Israeli settlements and outposts.
Al-Khalil governorate has become one of the areas most frequently targeted by such attacks, especially during the grape harvest season, which serves as a key source of income for dozens of Palestinian families.
Palestinian officials warn that the growing violence threatens farmers’ economic security and deepens their hardship amid continued efforts to impose new realities on the ground by targeting Palestinian land, livelihoods, and means of survival.
Escalating violations
According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, Israeli occupation forces and settlers carried out 11,074 violations against Palestinians, their land, and their property during the first half of 2026. These included attacks on civilians, land seizures, settlement expansion, forced displacement, the burning of homes and property, land bulldozing, tree uprooting, and the establishment of new settlement outposts.
Separately, data released by the Palestine Information Center (Mu’ta) showed that Israeli occupation forces and settlers committed 6,856 violations across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem during June 2026 alone.
Approximately 750,000 Israeli settlers currently live in 141 settlements and 224 settlement outposts across the occupied West Bank, including about 250,000 settlers living in 15 settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, amid ongoing efforts to forcibly displace Palestinian communities.
