Palestinians, US journalist attacked in West Bank pogrom: What we know

What the report says

Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in the occupied West Bank on Friday, according to Al Jazeera’s report, and severely beat Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine during the violence near Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah. Levine, an American freelance photographer, was later taken to a hospital in Ramallah after witnesses said her press vest was visible and her equipment was taken during the assault.

The report said dozens of masked settlers threw stones, used slingshots and set olive trees on fire, while Palestinians and journalists at the scene described settlers beating people on the ground and then returning to attack again as others tried to help. A Palestinian man was also reported shot in the leg after Israeli forces arrived, with witnesses and Palestinian media saying troops used live ammunition and tear gas.

Al Jazeera also reported related attacks in other West Bank communities on the same day, including Burqa and Turmus Aya, where Palestinians were said to be injured and vehicles and olive trees were burned. The incidents come amid a broader spike in settler violence during the annual olive harvest, which is a key source of income for many Palestinian families.

As general background, human rights groups and news agencies have repeatedly documented settler attacks on Palestinian farmers and property during harvest season in recent years. That context helps explain why Friday’s assault matters beyond the immediate injuries: it affects access to land, crops and livelihoods, while also raising concerns about the safety of journalists covering the violence.