It is stated that olive trees and their fruit are not only at the heart of daily life for Palestinians but also serve as a symbol of Palestinian resistance and resilience.
The significance of the olive tree for Palestinians is detailed below.
Olive trees are among the oldest cultivated trees on earth.
With an average lifespan of 300 to 600 years, these trees can support families and communities across multiple generations.
While some olive trees are known to have lived for thousands of years, the world's oldest tree is estimated to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old.
The longevity of olive trees reflects the history of Palestinian communities on lands where the trees have remained steadfast amidst centuries of political change and upheaval.
The very presence of these trees challenges the 19th and 20th-century settler narrative that claimed Palestine was "a land without a people."
Olives represent a primary or secondary source of income for approximately 80,000 to 100,000 Palestinian families.
Prior to October 2023, these trees accounted for 70% of fruit production in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The vast majority of the annual olive harvest (93%) is used for olive oil production, while the remainder is utilized for soap, table olives, and pickled olives.
Most olive products in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are consumed locally, though exports to the region and international markets are becoming increasingly common.
Traditionally, the harvest season in October and November is a time when families gather to pick olives from their trees, often singing songs and sharing stories as they work.
Even universities and schools grant students leave to participate in the harvest.
Most olives are pressed for oil used in cooking—from making za'atar to stews and pastries—but olives are also found in soaps, as well as some medicinal and cosmetic products.
Some olive oil even serves a religious purpose, as both Muslims and Christians view it as a holy or symbolic substance used in their rituals.
Beyond seeing them as a mere source of income, many Palestinians form a strong emotional bond with their trees, tending to them for years and decades almost like a family member.
Olive trees and their fruit feature prominently in Palestinian art, with many painters and poets like Mahmoud Darwish and Tawfiq Zayyad drawing upon their powerful symbolism.
Olive trees are another victim of Israel's devastating bombardment of Gaza.
As cultivated lands are destroyed by military attacks, many families are forced to cut down their own trees for firewood amidst a crippling fuel shortage.
In a blog written to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People in November 2024, an Islamic Relief aid worker describes this experience:
"I cannot forget how, when there was no fuel, the olive trees provided us with firewood and leaves for warmth and cooking.
We keep taking, and they keep giving.
Even when there was no shelter, their reaching branches sheltered us."
Our colleague, who was forced to flee to a neighboring country for safety with their family but longs for home and peace, writes:
"I wish I had the chance to say goodbye by hugging my own trees.
It is a feeling shared by so many of us... We have a deep connection to these trees and the land they grow upon.
They are an integral part of our heritage, our food, and even our proverbs—a legacy accumulated through centuries of connection.
As the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish said, 'We will stay here as long as the thyme and the olive remain.'
Olive trees and the people tied to them can only live and thrive on this land, just as other tree species flourish where they belong."
Olive trees are notably drought-resistant and can grow even in poor soil conditions.
These traits make the trees a symbol of the Palestinians' steadfastness (sumud) and connection to their land.
Beyond symbolism, olive trees play a material role in Palestinian resistance against illegal occupation and land grabs.
While the presence of the trees makes it difficult to claim the land is desolate or unused, planting and cultivating these trees serves as an act of defiance in the face of occupation.
However, with access to land heavily restricted by Israeli controls, many farmers are cut off from their trees.
An inconsistently applied permit system severely hinders farmers' ability to tend to their groves.
Since permits are granted to individuals, families often cannot work together to care for their trees, leading to smaller harvests.
Farmers also frequently have to pass through checkpoints to reach their land.
These checkpoints remain open only at specific times of the day, restricting the time farmers can spend working their land and thus limiting the harvest.
While the fact that olive trees can survive without constant cultivation means they can still be a valuable source of income despite access challenges, the impact of separating farmers from their land and trees is profound.
Unfortunately, olive trees and the farmers who cultivate them often become targets of attacks, especially just before and during the harvest season.
This is particularly evident in the West Bank, where trees are uprooted, burned, and vandalized by settlers.
In 2025, the UN agency OCHA reported the highest level of damage from settler attacks since 2020, with more than 4,000 trees targeted in 126 incidents recorded across 70 towns and villages.
Such attacks are condemned by international NGOs as well as some Jewish groups, who point out that the Torah prohibits the destruction of trees, even during wartime.
The destruction of trees in conflicts also violates Articles 54 and 55 of the Geneva Convention.
While local communities and NGOs take steps to protect trees and farmers during the harvest season and plant new ones to replace those destroyed, OCHA figures show that the problem is steadily worsening.
Islamic Relief supports vulnerable Palestinian communities with food, water, shelter, and much more.
Please help us continue this vital work.
Donate to our Palestine Emergency Appeal today.
