Dozens of masked settlers attacked Palestinian farmers and a journalist during olive harvest activities in farmland near the Palestinian village of Abu Falah in the occupied West Bank. According to a local official, the assault resulted in injuries to 12 Palestinians, including four dual Palestinian American citizens. Washington Post journalist Heidi Levine was among those hurt during the incident.
Witnesses described settlers approaching the harvest area with various weapons and tools, attacking farmers with nail-studded sticks and other implements while also setting fire to olive trees and vehicles. Farmers reported being forced to flee their work, with some organizing group efforts across multiple villages as a protective measure against such attacks. One landowner indicated his property was surrounded by seven settlements and outposts, explaining that collective harvesting provided safety through numbers.
As confrontations escalated, settlers threw stones using slingshots while some Palestinian youths threw stones in return. When Israeli forces arrived at the scene, tensions intensified further, with live ammunition sounds reported in the fields before Israeli forces deployed tear gas to disperse gatherings. Levine described being attacked by dozens of settlers, stating she was knocked down and kicked repeatedly while attempting to protect her camera and equipment.
The Washington Post’s executive editor expressed outrage over the attack, noting that Levine was clearly identifiable as a journalist. The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged dispatching personnel following reports of violent confrontation and stated that circumstances surrounding the incident would be examined. The IDF confirmed a female journalist was injured during the confrontation.
According to the UN, settler attacks on the olive harvest this year have resulted in one death and injured more than 120 Palestinians across the West Bank. The organization reported that attacks during the recent two-week period exceeded the total number of incidents recorded during the previous year’s entire harvest season. Israeli settlements are deemed illegal under international law, while outposts are illegal under Israeli law, though many receive state support.
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