Palestinian farmers in the village of Burqa, near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, say Israeli settlers set fire to their olive trees and that Israeli forces prevented them from extinguishing the blaze.

Olive groves are a livelihood and a seasonal clock for West Bank communities. Fires timed around harvest weeks destroy not only a year's crop but trees that take long periods to mature, amplifying the economic shock. Residents described watching flames move through the grove while being blocked from bringing water or basic firefighting tools to bear.

Settler attacks on farmland, livestock and homes are a recurring complaint logged by local councils and rights monitors. When security forces are accused of stopping Palestinian owners from defending their own trees, the grievance shifts from private violence to alleged official interference.

The Burqa incident adds to a tense West Bank picture already marked by demolitions and political deadlock in Israel after an inconclusive election. For the families involved the immediate needs are blunt: contain any remaining fire risk, count destroyed trees and document losses for later claims.

Publicly confirmed details remain short. Settlers are accused of starting the fire in a Burqa olive grove, farmers say troops stopped extinguishing efforts, and the village sits near Ramallah. Broader casualty or arrest figures were not part of the early public account.