03:53Dozens of Gazans were seen gathering by an olive mill near Deir al-Balah on Thursday to buy the season's first press of olive oil amid the ongoing war.
Footage shows farmers using machinery to press the olives and extract its golden oil. Locals can be seen gathering with their containers, waiting to collect oil for their families. Footage also shows dozens of olive bags piled outside the mill.
"The Palestinian olive means everything to us; livelihood, heritage and civilisation. It is a blessed tree, and praise be to God, it offers me hope," said Sami Abu Zayed, a farmer.
Olives are deeply rooted in Palestine's cultural heritage. The arrival of this year's olive season, a time-honoured tradition, stands in stark contrast to the backdrop of the persistent fighting in the region.
"There is a verse in the Quran that says: 'By the fig and the olive, and the Mount of Sinai...' The olive tree is considered a blessed tree among us in Gaza, and I would like to inform you that it is the most resilient tree in the Gaza Strip, as even it is cut in half, it will grow again," said another farmer and mill owner, Abu Abdullah Abu Mazyad.
As Gaza continues to face food, energy and water shortages, this year's harvest came with several challenges for local farmers.
Abu Mazyad explained that he had to increase his employees' wages from 40 to 50 shekels to 'encourage' them to work in the mill and help with the harvest.
"We have managed to pick some of the crop, but there is still more to be harvested," Abu Mazyad continued. "However, we are truly afraid of the planes and F16s flying overhead. As you know, the situation weighs heavily on all of Gaza. May Allah protect us and the entire nation."
Abu Zayed expressed that although farmers are struggling with water scarcity and high energy prices, this year's harvest was more successful than the last - which came at the start of the war.
He stated: "We were unable to harvest the crop. We found olives on the ground in very poor condition and the season was not successful. However, this year is better despite the current war circumstances."
One customer, Ahmed Ashour, said that the 'turnout' is weak this year, attributing the decline to the rampant inflation, economic hardships and land loss stemming from the ongoing conflict.
"We were owners of farms in Tel al-Hawa, al-Maghraqa, and Juhar al-Deek. Now, we came here to buy oil. Those who used to sell oil, now have to buy it," he said.
The Israel-Hamas war has continued for over a year, starting with the militant group's unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
In the enclave, the IDF launched a large-scale campaign of airstrikes and ground incursions, killing over 42,500 and injuring at least 99,546, according to the Palestinian side.
'It is a blessed tree that offers me hope' - Gazan farmers continue to press olives amid ongoing war
Dozens of Gazans were seen gathering by an olive mill near Deir al-Balah on Thursday to buy the season's first press of olive oil amid the ongoing war.
Footage shows farmers using machinery to press the olives and extract its golden oil. Locals can be seen gathering with their containers, waiting to collect oil for their families. Footage also shows dozens of olive bags piled outside the mill.
"The Palestinian olive means everything to us; livelihood, heritage and civilisation. It is a blessed tree, and praise be to God, it offers me hope," said Sami Abu Zayed, a farmer.
Olives are deeply rooted in Palestine's cultural heritage. The arrival of this year's olive season, a time-honoured tradition, stands in stark contrast to the backdrop of the persistent fighting in the region.
"There is a verse in the Quran that says: 'By the fig and the olive, and the Mount of Sinai...' The olive tree is considered a blessed tree among us in Gaza, and I would like to inform you that it is the most resilient tree in the Gaza Strip, as even it is cut in half, it will grow again," said another farmer and mill owner, Abu Abdullah Abu Mazyad.
As Gaza continues to face food, energy and water shortages, this year's harvest came with several challenges for local farmers.
Abu Mazyad explained that he had to increase his employees' wages from 40 to 50 shekels to 'encourage' them to work in the mill and help with the harvest.
"We have managed to pick some of the crop, but there is still more to be harvested," Abu Mazyad continued. "However, we are truly afraid of the planes and F16s flying overhead. As you know, the situation weighs heavily on all of Gaza. May Allah protect us and the entire nation."
Abu Zayed expressed that although farmers are struggling with water scarcity and high energy prices, this year's harvest was more successful than the last - which came at the start of the war.
He stated: "We were unable to harvest the crop. We found olives on the ground in very poor condition and the season was not successful. However, this year is better despite the current war circumstances."
One customer, Ahmed Ashour, said that the 'turnout' is weak this year, attributing the decline to the rampant inflation, economic hardships and land loss stemming from the ongoing conflict.
"We were owners of farms in Tel al-Hawa, al-Maghraqa, and Juhar al-Deek. Now, we came here to buy oil. Those who used to sell oil, now have to buy it," he said.
The Israel-Hamas war has continued for over a year, starting with the militant group's unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
In the enclave, the IDF launched a large-scale campaign of airstrikes and ground incursions, killing over 42,500 and injuring at least 99,546, according to the Palestinian side.
Dozens of Gazans were seen gathering by an olive mill near Deir al-Balah on Thursday to buy the season's first press of olive oil amid the ongoing war.
Footage shows farmers using machinery to press the olives and extract its golden oil. Locals can be seen gathering with their containers, waiting to collect oil for their families. Footage also shows dozens of olive bags piled outside the mill.
"The Palestinian olive means everything to us; livelihood, heritage and civilisation. It is a blessed tree, and praise be to God, it offers me hope," said Sami Abu Zayed, a farmer.
Olives are deeply rooted in Palestine's cultural heritage. The arrival of this year's olive season, a time-honoured tradition, stands in stark contrast to the backdrop of the persistent fighting in the region.
"There is a verse in the Quran that says: 'By the fig and the olive, and the Mount of Sinai...' The olive tree is considered a blessed tree among us in Gaza, and I would like to inform you that it is the most resilient tree in the Gaza Strip, as even it is cut in half, it will grow again," said another farmer and mill owner, Abu Abdullah Abu Mazyad.
As Gaza continues to face food, energy and water shortages, this year's harvest came with several challenges for local farmers.
Abu Mazyad explained that he had to increase his employees' wages from 40 to 50 shekels to 'encourage' them to work in the mill and help with the harvest.
"We have managed to pick some of the crop, but there is still more to be harvested," Abu Mazyad continued. "However, we are truly afraid of the planes and F16s flying overhead. As you know, the situation weighs heavily on all of Gaza. May Allah protect us and the entire nation."
Abu Zayed expressed that although farmers are struggling with water scarcity and high energy prices, this year's harvest was more successful than the last - which came at the start of the war.
He stated: "We were unable to harvest the crop. We found olives on the ground in very poor condition and the season was not successful. However, this year is better despite the current war circumstances."
One customer, Ahmed Ashour, said that the 'turnout' is weak this year, attributing the decline to the rampant inflation, economic hardships and land loss stemming from the ongoing conflict.
"We were owners of farms in Tel al-Hawa, al-Maghraqa, and Juhar al-Deek. Now, we came here to buy oil. Those who used to sell oil, now have to buy it," he said.
The Israel-Hamas war has continued for over a year, starting with the militant group's unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200, according to Israeli officials.
In the enclave, the IDF launched a large-scale campaign of airstrikes and ground incursions, killing over 42,500 and injuring at least 99,546, according to the Palestinian side.