American photojournalist injured in 'Israeli' settler attack on Palestinian olive harvesters

• American photojournalist Heidi Levine, 63, who works for The Washington Post, was beaten by masked ‘Israeli’ settlers while covering the olive harvest in Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah, on Friday, October 16.
• The attack also injured Palestinian farmers, while olive trees were set ablaze. Witnesses said ‘Israeli’ forces fired tear gas at Palestinians after arriving at the scene but did not intervene against the settlers.

American photojournalist Heidi Levine, 63, who works for The Washington Post, was beaten by masked ‘Israeli’ settlers while covering the olive harvest in the Palestinian village of Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on Friday.

Levine was knocked to the ground and kicked repeatedly before the attackers took her cameras and phone, according to her account and eyewitness reports published by The Washington Post. She was wearing a protective vest marked “PRESS” and a helmet when the assault took place.

She was taken to a hospital in the Ramallah area for treatment and was reported to be in stable condition, according to Reuters. Palestinian sources also reported that she sustained fractures and other injuries.

The attack occurred as Palestinian farmers gathered to harvest olives, an annual tradition and an important source of income for families across the occupied West Bank. Witnesses said masked settlers descended from a nearby hilltop settlement and attacked the farmers, throwing stones and setting olive trees on fire.

Levine told reporters that the attackers caught up with her, knocked her down and continued kicking her while she was on the ground.

“They just kept kicking me and kicking me,” she said, according to The Washington Post.

She described being assaulted for approximately 10 minutes. The attackers eventually pulled her to her feet before throwing her down again and continuing to beat her.

The assailants also took her cameras and the phone hanging around her neck, depriving her of equipment she used to document the attack.

Video recorded by another journalist showed her being struck repeatedly while she was on the ground. American journalist Jasper Nathaniel and other colleagues subsequently helped Levine reach safety before she was transported for medical treatment.

The attack took place despite Levine's clearly visible press identification and protective gear.

Witnesses said ‘Israeli’ military vehicles arrived in the area while the attack was underway, but the violence continued.

According to Reuters, at least two military jeeps drove through the area as Palestinian villagers fled. Witnesses said soldiers fired tear gas toward Palestinians, while the settlers continued their assault.

Journalist Andrey Khrzhanovskiy, who filmed part of the incident, said soldiers did not intervene against the settlers, who remained nearby carrying sticks and slingshots.

A Reuters photographer also witnessed an armed settler firing a gun during the attack. Journalist Oren Ziv, who witnessed the incident, said a Palestinian was wounded by gunfire.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA separately reported that ‘Israeli’ forces fired live ammunition and tear gas toward residents during the assault, which local sources said was intended to force farmers off their land.

The ‘Israeli’ military had not immediately responded to requests for comment reported by Reuters and The Washington Post.

Levine was among several people injured during Friday's attack on olive harvesters in Abu Falah.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said its medical teams treated a 63-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man who had been beaten during the assault. Both were transferred to hospital.

WAFA also reported that a Palestinian man sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh during the attack.

The violence was not limited to Abu Falah. Palestinian farmers and their property were also targeted in the nearby villages of Turmus Ayya and Burqa, east and northeast of Ramallah.

In Turmus Ayya, settlers reportedly set fire to three vehicles, olive trees and a vehicle belonging to Civil Defense volunteers. A volunteer was also beaten and injured.

In Burqa, four Palestinians were injured in an attack on olive harvesters in the Khallat Ali area, according to WAFA. The Palestine Red Crescent said the injured were taken to hospital.

The incidents came amid a wider wave of attacks on Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest season, with reports of physical assaults, gunfire, damaged property and restrictions on access to agricultural land.

The olive harvest is a vital agricultural season for Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, providing income for thousands of families while maintaining longstanding ties to their land.

However, Palestinian farmers regularly face attacks and restrictions that prevent them from reaching their groves or harvesting their crops.

The United Nations documented more than 1,600 settler attacks resulting in injuries or property damage between January and August 2026, according to figures cited by The Washington Post.

Levine's assault also came just 10 days after settlers reportedly beat Agence France-Presse photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh with rifle butts in the northern West Bank village of Aqraba.

The repeated targeting of journalists and agricultural communities has raised further concerns about the safety of those documenting or participating in the olive harvest.

Levine, a veteran photojournalist who has covered conflicts across the Middle East and Ukraine, was documenting the harvest when she became a target of the attack.

The assault left her injured and without her camera equipment, while Palestinian farmers faced further violence and damage to their livelihoods.

The incident adds to mounting concerns over settler violence in the occupied West Bank and the risks faced by journalists attempting to document attacks on Palestinian communities.