New York, Oct. 27 (Petra) – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Monday that Israeli settlers have carried out more than 85 attacks against Palestinian farmers and their lands since the start of the olive harvest season on October 9, repeatedly disrupting the annual harvest.

In its daily report, OCHA said the incidents have resulted in injuries to more than 110 Palestinians and the damage or destruction of over 3,000 trees and seedlings across 50 villages.

The office added that, in the past week alone, 17 attacks were recorded in 14 towns and villages, most of them in the Ramallah Governorate.

OCHA in the occupied Palestinian territory said in a statement that attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank often carried out with the support or participation of Israeli forces continue to spread fear, destroy homes and livelihoods and force Palestinians to abandon their lands.

The office added that these practices reinforce what it described as Israel's policy of consolidating its annexation of the occupied West Bank, in clear violation of international law.

It noted that the attacks over the weekend reflect the ongoing instability Palestinians face amid escalating settler violence.

//Petra// AK