{
  "id": 17908992,
  "title": "Gaza’s olive harvest fades amid war as Palestinians fight to save tradition",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/gazas-olive-harvest-fades-amid-war-as-palestinians-fight-to-save",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T04:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/11/03/gazas-olive-harvest-fades-amid-war-as-palestinians-fight-to-save-tradition/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The annual olive harvest in Gaza, a cherished tradition and vital source of income, has been severely impacted by the ongoing war. Saed Abu Baraka, a 45-year-old Palestinian farmer, gathered with his family beneath the trees to revive the harvest, but the disruption caused by the conflict was evident. Many relatives who once joined the event were no longer present, and much of the family's land lay beyond the Israeli-controlled yellow line. Despite efforts to recreate the atmosphere of the pre-war years, the absence of loved ones and the destroyed farmland made the gathering feel incomplete. Gaza's olive production has plummeted, from approximately 40,000 tonnes annually before the war to just 3,300 tonnes this season, representing only 8% of its previous level. More than one million olive trees have been destroyed, and many surviving groves remain inaccessible due to Israeli military operations and restrictions on access. The loss extends beyond agricultural production, as the olive harvest has long been a symbol of Palestinian identity, bringing families together to share food, songs, and stories. The war has changed both the landscape and the people who once gathered there. For Mr. Abu Baraka, the loss of land, loved ones, and access to his property has made the harvest a painful reminder of the devastation inflicted on Gaza's agricultural sector during the three years of conflict.",
  "summary": "The smell of freshly baked zaatar bread mingled with smoke rising from an open fire as Saed Abu Baraka gathered with his family beneath the olive trees in central Gaza, trying to revive a tradition that the war has severely disrupted. Around him, displaced families who had taken shelter on his land joined the breakfast gathering, sharing home-made bread and tea brewed over a fire, and recalling…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}