The lasting strain on Israeli olive growers six months after the devastating attack

Published 2024년 4월 24일

Tridge summary

In October 2023, southern Israel experienced a devastating Hamas attack that resulted in over 1,139 deaths and significant trauma to the population. The incident disrupted the olive harvest season, with many workers, including Palestinians and Thai guests, unavailable to help. The attack also led to the closure of the border with the West Bank and the mandatory military service for 350,000 Israelis, further impacting the harvest. Despite these challenges, Israeli olive producers managed to produce 11,000 tons of olive oil, falling short of the anticipated 13,500 tons due to the war's effects. Sindyanna of Galilee, a peace-promoting non-profit, faced economic difficulties and downsized its operations but continued to support the Palestinian community by increasing the purchase of Palestinian olive oil. The incident deepened fear and suspicion between Jews and Arabs but strengthened the resilient trust built over the years, with a focus on mutual respect and freedom.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

“There has been no normal life here since October 7th,” said Ido Tamir, owner of Ptora. The olive harvest was just getting underway in southern Israel when Hamas militants crossed from Gaza at sunrise, killing 1,139 people and taking an additional 250 hostage. The attack was the deadliest in Israel’s history, with many comparing its impact on society to that of the September 11, 2001, attack on the United States. Tamir has a 40-hectare olive grove located 25 kilometers from the Gaza border. He remembers five rockets falling in his moshava – an agricultural settlement – and the sense of fear. “We were supposed to start the harvest on October 8th, so for us, [the attack] was on the first day of the new harvest,” Tamir said. Instead, the olives remained on the trees as Tamir and the rest of the country attempted to come to grips with the personal and national tragedy unfolding around them. One of Tamir’s friends is among those who were taken back to Gaza and held hostage. Tamir still ...

Source: Olive Oil Times