US Photojournalist Attacked by Israeli Settlers in West Bank Olive Harvest

On Friday, October 16, 2026, American photojournalist Heidi Levine, working for The Washington Post, was severely attacked by a group of masked Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank near the Palestinian village of Abu Falah[2][3][5][19]. Levine reported being pushed to the ground and repeatedly kicked by "at least 25, maybe 50" individuals for approximately ten minutes, sustaining injuries that required treatment[8][18][19]. This incident occurred during a broader surge in settler violence against Palestinians across the West Bank, which began around September 27, 2026, coinciding with the annual olive harvest season[2][3][6][13][14].

The attack on an American journalist highlights escalating violence in the West Bank and has drawn condemnation from US officials, increasing pressure on Israel to address the actions of its citizens[4][12][13][14].

What the Records Show

Heidi Levine, a veteran photojournalist for The Washington Post, was covering the olive harvest in the Binyamin region of the West Bank when she was assaulted[2][3][6][18][19]. Levine, wearing a protective vest clearly marked "PRESS," was knocked to the ground, kicked repeatedly, and stripped of her cameras and phone[19]. She described being "kicked again and again" for about ten minutes by a large group of masked attackers[8][18]. Following the assault, Levine was treated at hospitals in Ramallah and Israel[19]. She underwent surgery on Saturday, October 17, after sustaining injuries to her limbs, back, a broken rib, and four broken vertebrae[18][19]. She will also need surgery on one hand due to a finger being ripped open, exposing bone[19].

The incident took place as settler violence spiked during the annual Palestinian olive harvest[2][3][6][13][14]. The Israeli settlement monitoring group Yesh Din reported at least 170 attacks on Palestinians by settlers since September 27, 2026, around the start of the harvest[13][14]. In a separate but related incident, European diplomats, a French mayor, and the archbishop of Cambrai were attacked by Israeli settler militants in Taybeh, West Bank, injuring three people and damaging a car[7][13][14].

What Changed and for Whom

The attack on Levine prompted strong reactions from US officials. On Saturday, October 17, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned the attack as a "despicable act of terror" carried out by "masked cowards" and demanded that Israel prosecute and jail the assailants[4][12]. Huckabee, appointed by Trump, has previously referred to settler violence as an "act of terror" and some settlers as "terrorists," a term usually reserved by US officials for Palestinian militants[9][10][11].

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed concern, stating on Saturday, October 17, that the US was "very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing"[13][14][15]. Rubio urged Israel to "crack down on that stuff" and indicated that the US State Department had inquired about the event[13][14][15][17]. The State Department emphasized that the safety and security of American citizens is a high priority and condemned "criminal violence by any party in the West Bank," supporting investigations and legal accountability[16]. Reporters Without Borders also condemned the attack, calling it "brazen violence"[5].

What the Subject Has Said Publicly

From her hospital bed, Heidi Levine described the ordeal to reporters: "I got jumped and I saw in the very beginning at least 25, maybe 50 of them, and I was on the ground and they were kicking me for like 10 minutes"[8]. She indicated that she had sustained injuries to her limbs, back, and a rib[18]. Levine also alleged that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers witnessed the attack but did not intervene to protect her[18][19]. She recalled that her son had expressed more concern about her work in the West Bank than her recent coverage of the war in Ukraine[18].

What We Could Not Confirm

We could not confirm if Israeli authorities have identified or apprehended any of the masked attackers[12]. We also could not confirm the specific unit or identities of the IDF soldiers Levine alleged watched the attack without intervening[18][19]. There was no information provided on whether an official investigation into the attack on Levine has been opened by Israeli authorities[4][12].