Activists accuse Israeli settlers of assault in occupied West Bank

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that activists say Israeli settlers assaulted three people in Umm al-Khair, a Palestinian village in the Masafer Yatta area of the occupied West Bank. The account comes from Russian activist Adele Shoko, who said on social media that she, US journalist Jasper Nathaniel and Israeli-Russian activist Andrey X were beaten and threatened during the incident, with equipment and personal belongings taken. The report says footage posted online appears to show several men, some armed, striking Nathaniel and Andrey X.

According to Shoko’s posts, Nathaniel was also pepper-sprayed and later taken away by Israeli forces. She said Andrey X lost consciousness several times and was denied hospital treatment after being detained. Al Jazeera noted that the video it cited also showed Israeli authorities escorting Nathaniel away while he said he had been beaten.

The reported assault came days after another violent episode in the West Bank: on October 16, masked settlers attacked Palestinian olive harvesters near Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah, setting trees on fire and throwing stones. In that earlier case, Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine said she was beaten and robbed while covering the scene, and a Palestinian man was shot in the leg after Israeli soldiers arrived. The incidents add to longstanding concern about settler violence and the risks facing journalists, activists and Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory.