Israel deports 14 foreign activists detained during West Bank olive harvest

Israeli authorities announced Sunday the deportation of 14 foreign solidarity activists detained in the occupied West Bank while accompanying Palestinian farmers during the annual olive harvest.

In a statement, Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority said the foreign nationals had been deported over the weekend after being detained for alleged violations of Israeli law and disruption of public order.

According to the Palestinian volunteer campaign Fazaa, Israeli forces detained the activists on Friday while they were accompanying Palestinian farmers harvesting olives between the villages of Ras Karkar and Kafr Ni’ma, west of Ramallah.

The campaign said Israeli settlers assaulted the activists before Israeli forces detained them and transported them away by bus.

Fazaa, which organizes Palestinian and international volunteers to help farmers access their agricultural lands and protect them from settler attacks, said the detention of foreign solidarity activists during agricultural activities has become a recurring occurrence.

The campaign also referred to the detention of several international activists in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, on 22^nd October. Those activists were subsequently deported, according to the group.

Despite the deportations, Fazaa said it would continue organizing solidarity activities across the West Bank to support Palestinian farmers and help them maintain access to their land during the olive harvest season.

Israeli authorities also announced the arrest of three Palestinians who had been accompanying the foreign activists.

Israeli forces accused the activists of attempting to provoke confrontations and encourage anti-Israel media campaigns.

According to the Israeli statement, the deportations were intended to prevent what authorities described as provocative activities.

The Palestinian campaign disputed the characterization of the activists’ activities, maintaining that their presence was intended to support farmers and provide protection against settler violence.