Israeli settlers attack Palestinians and journalist during West Bank olive harvest

A local official stated that the attacks injured 12 Palestinians, including four dual Palestinian American citizens. Majdi Fheed reported that almost 15 Jewish men attacked them with guns, rocks, and special weapons while they were gathering olives, saying, "They hit me on my head [and] my neck – look, I am bleeding!"

Mukhllis Zuhdi added that the group was on their land picking olives when the settlers suddenly came down on them and started hitting them and throwing stones. Settlers burned three cars, including one belonging to a man ferrying the injured.

Heidi Levine, a foreign journalist, was injured in the attack while working near the Palestinian villages of Abu Falah and Turmus Ayya in the central West Bank. Levine described how more than 50 masked settlers holding sticks suddenly attacked her.

The Foreign Press Association stated that settlers stole Levine's passport, phone, wallet and equipment. Levine was taken to hospital in Ramallah following the incident.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dispatched personnel to the area following a report of a violent confrontation. The Israeli military also said troops and border police forces were deployed to the area following a report of a violent confrontation.

Israeli police opened an investigation into incidents in Abu Falah and Turmus Ayya. The UN reported that settler attacks this year have so far killed one Palestinian and injured more than 120 others.

The Palestinian Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission documented at least 136 attacks linked to the olive harvest season since the beginning of October. A US State Department spokesperson said, "We condemn criminal violence by any party in the West Bank and call for investigations, arrests, and convictions, of those responsible."

Atta Kanaan reported that young men used fire extinguishers to contain the fire at the mosque. Slogans were spraypainted in Hebrew on the exterior walls of the mosque.

Rouhi Fattouh described the mosque incident as "a barbaric act and a dangerous escalation in settler terrorism."

Majdi Fheed said, "We were getting our olive trees and almost 15 Jewish guys … started attacking us with guns, with rocks, with special weapons. They hit me on my head [and] my neck – look, I am bleeding!"

Majdi Fheed