The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the suspension of a deputy commander in its 334th Battalion and has opened an investigation following the death of Hanan Abdel Rahman Abu Salama, a 59-year-old Palestinian woman, who was allegedly shot while picking olives near the village of Faqoua in the northern West Bank.
According to the Palestinian Authority’s health ministry, Abu Salama was killed by Israeli gunfire in an area close to the security barrier on Thursday. Witnesses reported that she was with her family when the incident occurred.
An IDF statement confirmed the initiation of an internal investigation, and the commander present during the incident has been temporarily removed from duty. Witnesses from the village council claimed that an Israeli soldier in a white vehicle fired approximately 10 shots at the family.
Despite the shooting, the village council had previously announced that harvesting activities had been approved by Israeli authorities, and they believed it was safe to work in the orchards near the security fence.
A council member expressed skepticism about the investigation’s outcome, stating, “It is clear to the family and everyone else that this does not mean that someone will face justice for the killing of an innocent woman.”
The olive harvest is vital to Palestinian culture but has frequently been a flashpoint for conflict between farmers and Israeli settlers. UN experts have recently warned that this year’s olive season could be particularly dangerous for Palestinian farmers.
Since the onset of heightened violence in the region on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, the IDF has conducted numerous operations in the West Bank. According to reports, over 716 Palestinians have died during this period, with the majority identified as militants engaged in confrontations with Israeli forces.