Masked settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in Abu Falah in the occupied West Bank, leaving at least two people injured, including Washington Post journalist Heidi Levine. The assault also saw olive trees set alight and live gunfire reported.
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01Summary
- 01About 80 masked settlers armed with clubs attacked Palestinians in Abu Falah on 16 October 2026 as they picked olives.
- 02Witnesses said more settlers later arrived carrying machineguns, and live gunfire was heard in the area.
- 03At least two people were injured, including Washington Post journalist Heidi Levine, who said she was beaten and kicked before surviving because of her helmet and flak jacket.
- 04Israeli military jeeps entered the area and soldiers fired tear gas towards Palestinians, while some Palestinians threw rocks back at the settlers.
- 05Amnesty International said last month that Israel had signed at least 15 land confiscation orders covering about 200 dunams, or 20 hectares, in Jenin.
02Why it matters
The attack adds to record levels of settler violence in the West Bank and affects a harvest that is an economic lifeline for Palestinian families. It also increases pressure on Israel as Western allies move to sanction goods from illegal settlements.
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