Violence flares in West Bank as settler gangs torch cars and attack farmers during olive harvests

Masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers and a United States journalist during the annual olive harvest in the occupied West Bank on Friday, injuring multiple individuals and setting fire to vehicles and crops. The violence occurred in farmland near the village of Abu Falah, north of Ramallah, where dozens of settlers descended from a hilltop outpost to assault villagers picking fruit. A local official stated that twelve Palestinians were injured in the series of attacks, including four dual Palestinian American citizens. Among those hurt was Heidi Levine, a photojournalist for the Washington Post. The United Nations reported that the number of settler attacks in the past two weeks has already exceeded the total recorded during the entire previous harvest season. The conflict erupted early in the morning as farmers moved into their fields. Witnesses described seeing a stream of cars carrying wounded farmers racing out of the area, with smoke rising from nearby fires. Majdi Fheed, an American citizen, emerged from one vehicle with visible injuries to his head and neck. He reported that approximately fifteen armed men attacked the group with guns, rocks, and other weapons. Yaser AlKam, a council member from the neighboring village of Turmus Aya, confirmed that Fheed suffered deep wounds from nail-studded sticks and required medical treatment. Fheed’s elderly mother was also injured in the incident. Another farmer stated that settlers burned three cars, including his own, after the group arrived on the land to begin harvesting. Heidi Levine, who was wearing a flak jacket marked with the word press, was attacked while documenting the events. Video footage showed her lying on a dirt path with her hands over her face as at least three settlers surrounded her. She was transported to a hospital in Ramallah, where she described being pushed to the ground and kicked repeatedly. Levine credited her protective gear for saving her life, stating that she likely would not have survived the beating otherwise. She noted that the attack ceased only when her Palestinian colleagues intervened. Levine also reported that her camera and phone were stolen during the assault. She observed at least fifty masked men on the hilltop, some equipped with slingshots, before they charged down toward the harvesters. The scale of the settler presence varied by account. Reuters witnesses estimated that around eighty settlers participated in the coordinated attack, some carrying gas canisters. Other reports cited figures ranging from thirty to forty masked individuals. The settlers positioned themselves in front of the terraced olive lanes and launched rocks at the villagers using slingshots. In response, some Palestinians picked up stones to defend themselves. During the confrontation, at least two Israeli military jeeps drove through the area, forcing villagers to run for safety. The violence did not cease upon the arrival of security forces. Soldiers fired tear gas toward the Palestinians, and the sound of live gunfire was audible. A photographer witnessed at least one armed settler discharge a firearm. The Israeli military issued a statement claiming that soldiers and border police deployed to the area and fired warning shots. The military alleged that at one point, troops fired toward a person they believed posed a threat, identifying the individual as a Palestinian who had approached them with a sharp object. The army characterized the incident as a violent clash that its forces had terminated. However, witnesses contradicted the official narrative, stating that the attack continued after troops arrived and that no settlers were arrested. Haaretz reported, citing eyewitnesses, that roughly thirty masked settlers ordered harvest workers to leave and that security forces failed to detain any perpetrators. Political reactions highlighted the tension surrounding the upcoming Israeli general election scheduled for October 27. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement condemning violence against anyone but argued that the circumstances remained unclear. The statement suggested that two hundred Palestinians confronted forty settlers and that both sides were hurling objects. Netanyahu’s office warned against exploiting the incident to demonize Jewish residents of the region. Conversely, Gadi Eisenkot, a leading rival to Netanyahu in the parliamentary race, condemned the settler violence. Eisenkot, a former military chief, stated that the rioters did not represent the Israeli public and called for strict police measures against them. The United States State Department acknowledged the reports of violence. A spokesperson condemned criminal acts by any party in the West Bank and called for investigations, arrests, and convictions of those responsible. The economic impact of the destruction was significant, with fears that the burning of olive trees and vehicles resulted in hundreds of thousands of pounds in damages. The olive harvest serves as a critical source of income for many Palestinian families, making it a frequent flashpoint for conflict. Background conditions in the West Bank have intensified recently. Israel implemented new regulations this year prohibiting Palestinians from working in Area C, a zone under Israeli security control that contains much of the territory’s agricultural land. Since the harvest season began earlier this month, Palestinian officials reported that at least four people have been killed and more than one hundred injured. Settler violence has surged, with at least 170 attacks recorded since September 27. This increase coincides with a rapid expansion of settlements overseen by the current right-wing government. All Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law, though many outposts continue to receive state support. Farmers adopted defensive strategies to mitigate risks, such as working in large groups. Amin Khalil, a landowner, explained that three villages combined their labor to protect against attacks, noting that his property is surrounded by seven settlements and outposts. Despite these precautions, the tactics proved insufficient during the Friday incident. Dozens of settlers dressed in black moved down the hill, igniting several clusters of olive trees. Panic spread among the farmers as they urged children to evacuate the fields. The atmosphere in the region remains tense as the political landscape shifts ahead of the national vote.