At least three Palestinians were injured when dozens of settlers armed with sticks and stones attacked the group of around 50 workers as they tried to harvest the olives from land which belongs to the Awwad family from the nearby village of Awarta, an AFP correspondent reported.

The olive groves lie very close to the edge of the Itamar settlement where a young couple was stabbed to death along with three of their young children earlier this year, in an attack by two young Palestinian men from the Awwad family in Awarta.

Israeli troops arrived at the scene and broke up the clashes, and were trying to protect the farmers, although the settlers remained close by, throwing stones and shouting: "Death to the Awwad family."

Sources inside the settlement told AFP they were protesting over the fact that the Palestinians were working land belonging to the Awwad family.

Hakim Awwad, 18, confessed to the murders before an Israeli military court in September and was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences, while his 19-year-old cousin Amjad Awwad admitted his involvement on October 4. He has not yet been sentenced.

Palestinian sources confirmed the land belongs to the Awwad family, part of which lies within the boundaries of the settlement. The military said it was looking into the incident but had no immediate comment.