Israeli Settlers Attack Palestinians, US Journalist During West Bank Olive Harvest

Dozens of masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians and set fire to cars and olive trees during the annual olive harvest in the occupied West Bank. A BBC team witnessed one such attack near the Palestinian village of Abu Falah. A local official reported 12 Palestinians were injured, including four dual Palestinian American citizens, and a foreign journalist was also among those hurt. Al Jazeera's summary specified that at least two people, including a Washington Post journalist, were injured as settlers attacked with clubs and guns.

Upon arriving in the area, the BBC team encountered wounded Palestinian olive farmers leaving, with smoke rising from several fires. Majdi Fheed, an American citizen, was seen with a bloodied face, stating he was attacked by "almost 15 Jewish guys" using guns, rocks, and "special weapons," sustaining injuries to his head and neck. Yaser AlKam, a council member from the neighboring village of Turmus Aya, confirmed Majdi was attacked with nail-studded sticks and required treatment for deep head wounds, and his elderly mother was also injured. Another man reported settlers attacked them with sticks and burned three of their cars. A woman recounted, "As soon as we got to the land and put our things on the ground, they started to come, so we ran away."

A US State Department spokesperson, aware of the reports, condemned "criminal violence by any party in the West Bank" and called for investigations, arrests, and convictions of those responsible. Despite the violence, 73-year-old Imm Khaldoun expressed her unwavering resolve, stating she would always return to her land: "This is my land. It's my right [to be here]."

The UN reports that the past two weeks have seen more attacks by violent Israeli settlers than during the entire harvest season last year, turning olive picking in the West Bank into a race against time. In another olive orchard, dozens of farmers used power tools, keeping an eye on a group of settlers gathered on a ridge above them. Landowner Amin Khalil stated three villages had united to harvest together as a form of protection, noting his land was surrounded by seven Jewish settlements and outposts, all Israeli settlements being illegal under international law.

As the BBC team observed, dozens of settlers, all dressed in black, began moving down the hill, setting fire to several groups of olive trees. Panic erupted among the Palestinian farmers, with shouts to get children out of the field. Some began quickly wrapping up olives to leave. The confrontation escalated into an uneasy stalemate, with settlers hurling stones with slingshots and young Palestinian men retaliating. When Israeli forces arrived, the standoff intensified, with settlers running towards the farmers and some Palestinians setting off fireworks.

American journalist Heidi Levine of the Washington Post was injured during the attack. She described being "jumped," kicked while on the ground for at least 10 minutes, and struggling to protect her camera and bag. Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray expressed outrage, noting Levine was clearly identifiable as a journalist, and urged a thorough investigation. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated personnel were dispatched "following a report of a violent confrontation" and that a female journalist was injured, with "all circumstances" to be examined. As farmers retreated, the sound of live ammunition cracked across the fields, though its source was unclear. Minutes later, Israeli forces fired tear gas into the Palestinian fields to end the confrontation. The UN reports that settler attacks this year have killed one Palestinian and injured over 120 others across the West Bank.

What to watch: The international community's response to the surge in settler violence and the effectiveness of calls for investigations.

Editor's note: Strong reporting on the West Bank olive harvest attacks, incorporating details from the BBC text and supplementary wire reports as permitted.