Israeli settlers attack Palestinian olive harvesters across West Bank
Matan Golan, Jack Khoury and The Associated Press report in Haaretz on 17 October 2026:
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian olive harvesters and activists who had come to assist with the harvest in several locations across the West Bank on Saturday.
Footage from agricultural land belonging to Deir Jarir, north of Ramallah, showed masked individuals throwing stones at harvesters, who were seen leaving the area. Soldiers were also visible alongside the masked individuals, though it was unclear at what stage of the incident they arrived.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said six people were injured by pepper spray and physical assault in a settler attack during the olive harvest in Masafer Yatta, near Hebron, where settlers also reportedly stole sheep from Palestinian residents. According to a local report, one of the wounded was hit by live fire.
IDF soldiers were filmed at the scene. The Israeli army said troops had arrived following a confrontation that developed amid reports of the theft of sheep belonging to Israeli citizens. The army said troops had collected evidence and that a police investigation had begun into the parties’ claims, adding that the identities of those involved were being examined.
Under security forces’ procedures, when there is a suspicion of livestock theft, authorities are required to seize the animals and hold them until the conclusion of an official investigation determining their actual ownership.
Settlers were also reported to have attacked olive harvesters in the village of Jalud and stolen olives from groves on land belonging to Burqa and Umm Safa.
On Friday, settlers were documented attacking Palestinians in several olive groves across the West Bank. The Red Crescent said a 64-year-old woman, a 40-year-old man and a 70-year-old man were injured in a settler attack in Abu Falah, north of Ramallah. The woman was Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine, who on Saturday underwent surgery on her hand.
Her daughter, Ashley Milner, told the Associated Press that Levine nearly lost one of her fingers after it was cut to the bone. She also suffered a broken rib and other injuries. Milner said Levine had wounds across her body. Describing the attack, Levine said: “They jumped on me – I saw at least 25, maybe 50 people at first – and I found myself on the ground as they kicked me for about 10 minutes.”
She said she tried to hold on to her cameras and bag, which also contained her passport, while the attackers tore the bag apart and snatched her phone, which was hanging from a cord around her neck. “They ripped it off me, grabbed my cameras, tore the bag apart, and kept kicking me,” she said. Levine said her helmet and protective vest had protected her. “Then they forced me to stand up and kicked me again,” she said. “All I remember after that is that Palestinians came and rescued me. It’s absolute madness, and I didn’t see anyone trying to stop it.”
Before the attack in Abu Falah, a group of settlers was filmed descending from an outpost in Area B toward land belonging to the village. The Red Crescent also said five Palestinians were injured in attacks in Burqa and Beit Ummar.
Near Turmus Ayya, footage showed vehicles on fire, and the Red Crescent reported that three people were injured by physical assault. Attacks on olive harvesters were also reported in the village of Ramon, east of Ramallah.
Since the olive harvest season began earlier this month, numerous settler attacks on Palestinian harvesters have been reported. Israeli human rights group Yesh Din said it had documented 487 incidents of violence by settlers and soldiers since September 27, an average of 27 a day. Of those, 234 were related to the olive harvest, the group said.
This is a developing story.
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