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Olive harvesting begins in Gaza

Thursday, 13 October 2022 6:41 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 13 October 2022 6:41 PM ]

Ashraf Shannon
Press TV, Gaza

The olive harvest season has begun in the Gaza Strip and farmers are picking olives on their land in order to provide for their families.

Palestinian farmers and their families leave their everyday routines in the middle of October and dedicate some of their time to pick the fruits of nearly a year of hard work and special care. The olive harvest season runs until early November.

The tiny coastal territory used to have a thriving olive industry, but it has suffered a major setback due to years of the Israeli blockade and wars as well as the systematic destruction of olive trees.

The state of Gaza’s olive farmers reflects the scope of human rights violations committed by the Israeli regime against thousands of Palestinian farmers.

Israel’s tight restrictions have been preventing farmers from acquiring badly needed equipment for irrigation and planting.

The annual olive harvest season is considered a key economic, social and cultural event for Palestinians.

Olive and agriculture in general have been hit hard by the Israeli blockade and wars since 2007. Farmers here are struggling to keep this vital sector alive.

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