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Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip over the weekend killed at least six Palestinians, including children, even though the ceasefire agreement has been in place for a year. UN News reported that violence has also continued in the occupied West Bank during the olive harvest season. Independent UN experts urged Israel to protect Palestinian farmers and guarantee safe access to their land.
Attacks and casualties in Gaza
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, deadly Israeli airstrikes, gunfire, and shelling are still occurring in the Gaza Strip. These incidents have taken place alongside incursions into several areas, demolitions, and reported changes to what is known as the “yellow line” imposed by Israel since the October 2025 ceasefire agreement.
Local health authorities informed OCHA that 57 Palestinians were reportedly killed and 319 others injured between September 29 and October 12. These figures brought the number of casualties since the October 2025 ceasefire agreement to 1,493 people killed and 5,299 injured. OCHA said these developments were causing concern and increasing the risk of further displacement.
Displaced people face the rainy season
Humanitarian pressures in Gaza are intensifying ahead of the rainy season. Around 950,000 displaced people are believed to be living in locations with a moderate to high risk of flooding. Of that number, more than 400,000 are in areas at high risk of flooding.
OCHA reported that available supplies could provide only partial assistance to 18 percent of the 294,250 families requiring shelter support for the rainy season. Daily production of cooked meals also fell by 12 percent to around 614,000 because of funding constraints.
Shortages of fuel, engine oil, and other essential supplies threaten the continuity of health and water services. These conditions are increasing the vulnerability of people who have lost their homes and depend on aid to meet their daily needs.
Violence during the olive harvest
In the occupied West Bank, five Palestinians were reportedly killed and more than 240 injured as a result of actions by Israeli forces or attacks by settlers over the past two weeks. During the same period, OCHA recorded 160 settler attacks related to the olive harvest that resulted in casualties, property damage, or both.
Reported demolitions also reached their highest level, displacing 96 Palestinians. Violence during the olive harvest directly affects farmers’ safety, their access to land, and their families’ sources of food and livelihood.
UN experts urge protection for farmers
On Monday, independent human rights experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council warned that Palestinian farmers were facing new threats as the annual olive harvest began. They said farmers should be able to enjoy the harvest season safely and with dignity, rather than face a season of fear, loss, violence, and destruction. The experts are not UN staff members and do not receive salaries from the organization.
The experts urged Israel to guarantee protection for farmers and provide safe access to their land. They also said that Israel is obligated under international law to end its occupation of Palestinian land, halt new settlement activity, evacuate settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and provide full reparations for damage caused by violations.
The international community, particularly countries with power and influence, was called on to exert maximum pressure to protect civilians and ensure accountability. The experts warned that the situation could worsen following new Israeli orders to uproot olive trees and restrictions on farmers in the West Bank.
