World · Middle East · 3 hrs ago
Palestinian official urges nonviolent response to West Bank settler attacks
Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub warned of a possible escalation in the occupied West Bank and urged Palestinians to resist peacefully.
He spoke in Cairo, where Fatah and Hamas representatives were meeting amid rising violence.
Attacks have intensified during the olive harvest, a key season for Palestinian farmers and their communities.
UN figures record 178 attacks linked to the 2025 harvest across 88 Palestinian communities, with more than 6,000 trees and saplings vandalized.
UN experts called on Israel to protect farmers and ensure they can reach their land safely.
The Cairo talks focused on unified Palestinian political representation and a single authority and armed force.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has postponed elections until September 2027, but no further steps from the talks were stated.
Jibril Rajoub warned that Israeli settler and military violence could lead to an “explosion” in the occupied West Bank.
Rajoub called for Palestinians to pursue peaceful, nonviolent resistance, saying bloodshed was no longer acceptable.
He made the remarks in Cairo during talks involving Palestinian political movements, including Fatah and Hamas.
The warning comes amid attacks on Palestinians during the annual olive harvest and growing international criticism of settler violence.
UN rights experts urged Israel to protect Palestinian farmers and ensure they can reach their land safely.
- Who
- Jibril Rajoub, a senior Palestinian official and secretary general of Fatah’s central committee.
- What
- He warned that violence in the West Bank could lead to an “explosion” and urged a peaceful response.
- When
- He made the remarks during meetings reported on October 19 and 20, 2026.
- Where
- Cairo; his warning concerned the occupied West Bank.
- Why
- He said attacks by Israeli forces and settlers risk provoking a wider reaction.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
UN figures recorded 178 settler attacks related to the harvest, affecting 88 Palestinian communities.
Rajoub warned in Cairo that settler and military violence could lead to an “explosion” in the West Bank.
UN rights experts called on Israel to protect Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest.
Palestinian Authority elections that had been slated to start the following month were postponed until this date.
- Official
- Jibril Rajoub, Fatah central committee secretary general
- Location
- Cairo, where Palestinian political movements held talks
- Harvest attacks in 2025
- 178 attacks across 88 Palestinian communities
- Olive trees and saplings
- More than 6,000 were vandalized during the 2025 harvest
- Election delay
- Postponed until September 2027
4 sources
What people are saying
The terrorism carried out by the army and settlers, under the supervision of the Israeli government… is a prelude to a coming reaction and explosion.
Bloodshed is no longer an acceptable option,
Palestinian farmers must be protected and able to access their land safely. Yet, year after year, the violence, destruction and restrictions intensify,