Journalist Heidi Levine was severely assaulted by a group of masked settlers during an olive harvest in the West Bank village of Abu Falah, according to eyewitnesses and footage shared by journalist and activist Andrey X. The attack occurred as Palestinian villagers were beginning their annual olive harvest, a period marked by heightened tensions and frequent confrontations.
Levine, who was clearly identified as a journalist, recounted from a hospital bed that she was pushed to the ground, beaten repeatedly with clubs, and robbed of her camera equipment, bag, and phone. She credited wearing a flak jacket and helmet for preventing more serious injury. Witnesses described her attackers as armed with slingshots, clubs, and automatic rifles, with some also firing live ammunition. Reuters reporters confirmed the presence of firearms during the incident.
The assault reportedly continued even after Israeli military forces arrived at the scene, with soldiers deploying tear gas and standing by as the settlers pursued Palestinians and journalists withdrawing from the area. Andrey X said he and other journalists were able to help Levine escape to an awaiting ambulance despite ongoing attacks, including settlers throwing rocks. Palestinian medics later reported that two individuals were injured and taken to hospitals in Ramallah, while Israeli forces reportedly shot a Palestinian man during a subsequent military operation in the village.
The Israeli military stated that its forces and Border Police were dispatched to respond to reports of a violent confrontation and that they used riot control measures to disperse the crowd. The military condemned the attack on the journalist but did not provide further details about the specific circumstances. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as “under investigation” and condemned the violence, but disputed reports and video evidence, claiming instead that Palestinians and left-wing activists confronted Israeli youths. He emphasized not allowing the incident to be used to demonize Jewish residents in the West Bank.
The attack on Levine comes amid a broader increase in settler-related violence in the West Bank, especially during the olive harvest season. Monitoring groups have documented at least 234 harvest-related attacks since late September, with military forces reportedly present in more than a quarter of these incidents. This surge in violence has occurred in the context of escalating tensions following Hamas’s October 2023 attacks on southern Israel and the subsequent Israeli military response in Gaza.
International and press freedom organizations expressed strong concern over the assault on Levine. The International Women’s Media Foundation underscored the growing risks journalists face in conflict zones, emphasizing the importance of protecting reporters to ensure the public’s right to information. The incident has also attracted international attention amid ongoing debates about Israeli settlement expansion and the political dynamics influencing the West Bank.
Regional actors, including Jordan, have warned that the current trajectory of violence risks destabilizing the region further. A note shared by Jordanian officials accused Israel’s far-right government of escalating tensions to reshape the West Bank’s demographic and geographic landscape, a charge Israeli military spokespersons have denied, stating their operations aim to prevent terrorist attacks.
The incident highlights the complex and volatile environment journalists and Palestinians face daily in the West Bank, where overlapping claims, military presence, and settler activities continue to fuel clashes.