PALSHIELD · Olive Harvest 2026

Presence
Is Protection.

Palestinian farming families face settler violence, blocked roads, intimidation, and crop destruction during the olive harvest. PALSHIELD is organizing civilian volunteers to accompany farmers in the field when presence, documentation, and support matter most.

Volunteer with PALSHIELD Fund the Mission

Deployment: October – November 2026 | West Bank, Palestine

The Situation

Olive harvest is no longer just about olives.

For Palestinian families in the West Bank, the olive harvest is the economic backbone of rural life — primary income, cultural continuity, land connection. UN experts declared 2024 the “most dangerous olive season ever” for Palestinian farmers. October 2025 was the single highest month of settler violence since OCHA began documenting in 2006.

118+

Settler incidents per month as of early 2025

(OHCHR, March 2025)

3,100+

Olive trees destroyed during the 2024 harvest alone

(UN / Mongabay, 2025)

1,860+

Documented settler attacks Oct 2023 – Dec 2024

(Al Jazeera / OCHA)

1,300+

Tons of olive oil lost in 2024 — farmers blocked from their own land

(Palestinian officials / Mongabay)

Sources: UN OHCHR March 2025 · OCHA Humanitarian Updates 2023–2024 · Al Jazeera settler attack mapping · Mongabay/Palestinian officials 2025

The Mission

Civilian volunteers. Protective presence in the field. October – November 2026.

PALSHIELD is deploying 45 civilian volunteers across three rotating teams during the 2026 olive harvest season. Each team is assigned directly to Palestinian families — identified by our partners on the ground and accompanies them through their harvest.

This is real field deployment.

Protective Presence

U.S. civilian volunteers deployed alongside Palestinian families during harvest. Documented presence deters attacks, reduces escalation, and creates a witness layer that has material protective value in contested areas.

Harvest Support

Volunteers work alongside farmers — picking olives, managing equipment, handling logistics. The work is real and physical. The presence is purposeful. Each day in the grove is a day the family can harvest safely.

Infrastructure Kits

Each assigned village receives a PALSHIELD Infrastructure Kit: cameras, alarm systems, generators, fire extinguishers, flashlights, and first aid supplies — deployed in coordination with local liaisons and village councils.

Documentation

Every rotation includes dedicated documentation: incident logs, photos, and field notes per PALSHIELD protocols. Records are used for internal reporting, partner coordination, and donor accountability.

How We Operate

Structured rotations. Defined roles.

14-Day Rotation Schedule

3–4 rotations · 10–15 volunteers per rotation · 3 families per rotation

Day 1

Arrival · accommodation · in-country orientation · document check · comms setup

Days 2–5

Village assignment · family accompaniment · harvest support · infrastructure kit deployment · evening debriefs

Day 6

Reset day — rest · welfare checks · resupply · schedule adjustment

Days 7–10

Second family assignment based on updated security assessment and village needs

Day 11

Reserve/flex day — urgent call-ins · access changes · contingency coverage

Days 12–13

Final field assignments · documentation closeout · handover notes to next rotation

Day 14

Departure · full handoff to next rotation team

Team Roles

Each team of 5–10 volunteers fills these positions:

Security Lead

Monitors surroundings during harvest. Maintains comms with Field Ops Lead.

Equipment Manager

Tracks infrastructure kit components — cameras, alarms, generators.

Field Reporting Lead

Maintains incident log, photo/video per PALSHIELD protocols.

Medical Support Lead

Assists Medical Focal Point with welfare checks and first aid inventory.

General Volunteer

Provides practical support to farmers and field teams during harvest activities.

Fund the Mission

$130,000 campaign goal.

Every dollar funds direct field operations. Here is how funds are deployed:

Field Operations

Transportation, accommodation, per diems, and daily operational costs for all three rotations.

Perimeter Safety Kits

Fire safety, lighting, medical, and detection equipment — one kit per family assignment, left permanently with the village after harvest.

Staff & Coordination

Project Coordinator and Field Coordinator on the ground for the full two months. Remote administration and legal advisory support throughout.

Volunteer Training

Pre-deployment training in-country for all 45 volunteers before their first field day.

Emergency Reserve

Contingency funds for legal support, medical evacuation, and unforeseen security conditions.

Use of Funds

Where the money goes.

Campaign goal $130,000

Field Operations 40%

Transportation, accommodation, volunteer per diems, and daily operational costs across all three rotations.

Personnel 17%

Project Coordinator and Field Coordinator on the ground for the full two months. Remote administration and legal advisory throughout.

Emergency Reserve 14%

Legal support, medical evacuation, and contingency funds held for the full duration of the deployment.

Perimeter Safety Kits 10%

Fire extinguishers, IFAKs, generators, and flashlights — one kit per family assignment, left permanently with the village after harvest.

Program Support 10%

Financial oversight, donor reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and impact documentation.

Volunteer Training 9%

Faz3a pre-deployment OTG training in Ramallah for all 45 volunteers before their first field day. Includes venue, materials, and coordination costs.

Join the Mission

Volunteer with PALSHIELD.

PALSHIELD recruits disciplined civilians with the skills, temperament, and commitment to operate in structured field conditions. We have 45 volunteer slots open for Olive Harvest 2026 and two organizational staff positions available now.

Protective Presence · West Bank · Oct–Nov 2026

Olive Harvest Volunteer

Stand with Palestinian farming families during olive harvest. Deter violence through visible presence. Document incidents. Operate as part of a structured team under defined protocols. Requires application, interview, pre-deployment training in Ramallah, and full compliance with PALSHIELD field protocols. Physical field role — not independent travel or advocacy.

MULTIPLE SLOTS OPEN

Apply to Volunteer

Staff Role · Remote · Stipend

Fundraising & Grants Director

Identify funding sources, develop grant proposals, and lead fundraising efforts that directly support field operations. This is a single organizational role — ongoing, not campaign-specific. Requires demonstrated experience in nonprofit fundraising or grant writing.

Apply for This Role

Staff Role · Remote · Stipend

Social Media Director

Manage PALSHIELD’s social media presence across campaigns and deployments. Document the mission with integrity. Build visibility without sensationalism. One organizational role — serious content discipline required, this is not performative activism.

Apply for This Role

For organizational partnerships, team deployments, or in-kind support, contact info@palshield.support

FAQ

Common questions.

Does PALSHIELD send volunteers to the West Bank?

Yes. Protective presence — civilian volunteers standing with Palestinian farming families during harvest — is the core of this mission. PALSHIELD is recruiting 45 international civilian volunteers for Olive Harvest 2026, deploying in three back-to-back 14-day rotations of 15 volunteers each, from October through November 2026. Each cohort is organized into three teams of 4–6, with every team assigned directly to a Palestinian family by Faz3a and local representatives on the ground. This is not independent travel. It is organized, vetted, trained field deployment.

Who can apply to volunteer?

International civilians with the physical capacity for sustained outdoor field work, the temperament to operate calmly under stress, and the discipline to follow structured team protocols. Strong candidate attributes include de-escalation ability, first aid or EMT experience, documentation discipline, and Arabic or Hebrew language ability. All volunteers must complete an application, interview, vetting process, and Faz3a pre-deployment OTG training in Ramallah before their first field day.

What is a PALSHIELD Perimeter Safety Kit?

A protective equipment package brought by each team to their assigned family. Every kit includes fire extinguishers, individual first aid kits (IFAKs), a portable generator, and high-powered flashlights. When the volunteers leave, the kit stays — left permanently with the village after the harvest season ends. It is a lasting protective infrastructure gift, not a temporary deployment resource.

How is the $130,000 goal used?

The campaign goal funds the full two-month deployment: field operations, transportation, accommodation for all three rotations, volunteer per diems, Faz3a OTG training for all 45 volunteers, Project Coordinator and Field Coordinator compensation, Perimeter Safety Kits, legal advisory, and an emergency reserve for contingency conditions including medical evacuation and legal support. PALSHIELD operates with fiscal sponsor accountability through MENA Health. Detailed budget documentation is available to donors on request.

Is it safe for volunteers?

The West Bank during olive harvest is an active conflict environment. PALSHIELD does not minimize this. All volunteers complete Faz3a’s on-the-ground training before deployment, covering movement protocols, incident documentation, legal rights, checkpoint navigation, and emergency procedures. Teams operate under a defined structure with a Project Coordinator and Field Coordinator on the ground for the full season. Emergency medical evacuation plans are pre-identified. Deployment decisions are made by the Project Coordinator based on real-time security assessments.

Can organizations partner with PALSHIELD?

Yes. Organizations can send a pre-formed team of volunteers embedded into one rotation, fund one or more Perimeter Safety Kits, or provide in-kind logistical support. For partnership inquiries, contact info@palshield.support.

How is PALSHIELD different from other organizations doing similar work?

PALSHIELD operates a structured, team-based volunteer deployment with vetted roles, mandatory pre-deployment training through Faz3a, defined coordination structure, and direct accountability to the families we serve. Families are pre-identified by Faz3a and local representatives — not selected by PALSHIELD independently. Each team is assigned to a specific family and rotates to the next when that harvest is complete. This is not broad symbolic accompaniment. It is disciplined, accountable, family-level protection.

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