Israeli Settlers Torch Olive Trees, Injure Photojournalist in West Bank Harvest Attack

Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed a Palestinian olive harvest in the village of Abu Falah near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Friday, setting olive trees on fire and hurling stones at villagers in a West Bank settlers attack that wounded at least two people, including a photojournalist working for The Washington Post.

FAKTA

• The attack took place in Abu Falah, near Ramallah, on Friday 16 October 2026.
• Around 80 masked settlers descended from a hill above the terraced olive groves; some carried gas canisters and used slings to launch stones.
• Two people were taken to hospital in the Ramallah area, including Heidi Levine, a photojournalist working for The Washington Post.
• Israeli soldiers arriving at the scene fired tear gas towards the Palestinian villagers; a Reuters photographer saw an armed settler fire a gun.
• Monitoring group Yesh Din counts at least 170 settler attacks since 27 September, around the start of the annual olive harvest.

Harvest day turns violent

The villagers of Abu Falah had gathered for the annual harvest, a cherished tradition in Palestinian life, when the settlers moved down from the hill above the terraces and took positions in front of the trees. Witnesses said the masked attackers launched stones at the farmers before setting some of the trees ablaze.

The farmers retreated down the hillside and picked up stones to defend themselves. Moutaz Abdelhadi, a 42-year-old farmer who watched the attack unfold, said the settlers wanted to frighten residents and drive them from their homes.

Two Israeli military jeeps sped through the area as villagers moved out of their path. Troops then fired tear gas toward the Palestinians. Gunfire was heard, and a Reuters photographer saw an armed settler firing a weapon. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and The Washington Post did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Levine’s injury.

Wider surge in settler violence during harvest season

Friday’s attack is part of a sharp rise in settler violence across the occupied West Bank during this year’s olive harvest. In a separate incident the same day near Turmus Ayya, settlers burned three cars after confronting Palestinian farmers at work in their groves; a witness said one man who was alone was beaten.

Israeli monitoring group Yesh Din has recorded at least 170 attacks by settlers since 27 September, around the start of the harvest season. Critics have linked the increase in violence to the expansion of settlements under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Netanyahu has condemned settler violence, though critics say the authorities have done too little to stop further attacks.

Background

Around 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank alongside at least three million Palestinians. The United Nations and most countries consider the settlements illegal under international law, while Israel disputes this and describes the territory as disputed. For more on the region, see the Middle East news section of Watan News.