--- title: "Attacks on Palestinians occur during olive harvest season in West Bank" url: https://noti.group/attacks-on-palestinians-occur-during-olive-harvest-season-in-west-bank/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "World News" published: 2026-10-16T14:31:04.000Z updated: 2026-10-16T23:07:47.902Z id: 4f93b123-002c-4d61-b5e2-9dc5c5332d9c source: "BBC News World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c65ynk7212vqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/attacks-on-palestinians-occur-during-olive-harvest-season-in-west-bank/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Attacks on Palestinians occur during olive harvest season in West Bank Dozens of masked Israeli settlers launched a violent attack on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, injuring at least 12 people, including four dual Palestinian-American citizens. Dozens of masked Israeli settlers have launched a violent attack on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank during the annual olive harvest season. The assault occurred in farmland near the Palestinian village of Abu Falah, where eyewitnesses reported seeing settlers setting fire to cars and olive trees. A team from our news organization witnessed one of several attacks taking place in the area. Local officials confirmed that at least 12 Palestinians were injured, including four dual Palestinian-American citizens. A foreign journalist was also among those hurt in the violence. The scene was chaotic as we arrived in the area early in the morning, with a stream of cars carrying wounded Palestinian olive farmers racing out along a narrow stony track. The vehicles were piled high with olive picking equipment and smoke rose from several nearby fires. A bloodied Majdi Fheed peered out from the backseat of one car, his face a picture of pain and distress. He recounted how he and other Palestinians had been attacked by a group of settlers armed with guns, rocks, and special weapons. Yaser AlKam, a council member from the nearby village of Turmus Aya, described Majdi's injuries as particularly severe, saying he had been struck on the head and neck with nail-studded sticks. The scene unfolded quickly, with Israeli settlers arriving soon after Palestinian farmers began harvesting their olives in the West Bank. Witnesses described the sudden arrival of settlers, who brought violence to the area. A nearby farmer recalled that as soon as they started putting down their equipment, the settlers began approaching them. In a separate olive orchard, dozens of farmers were frantically stripping trees with power-tools, their focus divided between harvesting and watching for potential threats from above. Onlookers observed a group of settlers gathered at an illegal outpost on a nearby ridge, observing the harvest below. The UN has reported a surge in violent attacks by Israeli settlers over the past two weeks, exceeding the number of incidents seen during the entire olive harvest season last year. Farmers like 73-year-old Imm Khaldoun remain resolute in their determination to return to their land, despite the risks. She emphasized that her presence is not only a right but also an essential part of maintaining her connection to her ancestral property. Palestinian farmers gathered together from three villages to harvest olives on Amin Khalil's land, a strategy aimed at preventing attacks by Israeli settlers. The move is seen as a collective effort against potential harassment, given the presence of seven Jewish settlements and outposts surrounding their land. Under international law, all Israeli settlements are considered illegal. Furthermore, small encampments known as outposts, often established on hilltops, are also prohibited under Israeli law, although they frequently receive state support. The decision to harvest together has been a deliberate attempt by the villagers to minimize the risk of attacks by settlers. Amin Khalil explained that when farmers work alone at the edge of their village, they become vulnerable targets for settler aggression. However, this collective effort does not appear to have provided adequate protection on this day. A large group of Israeli settlers, dressed in black and armed with slingshots, begins making its way down the hill towards the harvesters. As tensions escalate, both sides engage in a confrontation that stalls into an uneasy standoff. Settlers hurl stones at the Palestinians, prompting young men from the village to retaliate by throwing stones back. The situation escalated rapidly as Israeli forces arrived on the scene, prompting a swift retreat from the Palestinian farmers who had been tending to their crops. In an attempt to push back against the settlers, some Palestinians set off fireworks. Heidi Levine, an American journalist with the Washington Post, was caught up in the chaos and suffered injuries during the attack. She reported that dozens of settlers ambushed her while she was reporting on the scene, leaving her vulnerable on the ground. Levine described being kicked repeatedly by the settlers as they tried to overpower her, despite wearing protective gear including a helmet and flak jacket. The assault continued for at least 10 minutes before the settlers finally relented. The Washington Post has condemned the attack on their journalist, calling it an unwarranted assault on someone doing their job. In a statement, executive editor Matt Murray urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and hold those responsible accountable. As the standoff continued, the sound of live ammunition echoed across the fields, leaving unclear who was firing - the settlers or Israeli forces that had been dispatched to the area in response to reports of violence. Israeli forces intervened in the standoff between settlers and Palestinians, firing tear gas into the fields to disperse the crowd. The UN has documented a disturbing trend of settler attacks on olive harvests this year, resulting in one Palestinian fatality and over 120 injuries across the West Bank. The growth of illegal Jewish outposts in the area has led to an increase in violence against Palestinians, with their olive groves becoming a focal point of contention. --- Source: [BBC News World](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c65ynk7212vqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/attacks-on-palestinians-occur-during-olive-harvest-season-in-west-bank/