Amnesty International Calls for International Action Following Settler Attacks in West Bank

Human rights organization Amnesty International called on the international community to take action following a series of attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank over the weekend of October 16–17. The incidents, which occurred in the Ramallah area during the Palestinian olive harvest, targeted local residents, a photojournalist, and a European diplomatic delegation.

According to the organization, dozens of masked settlers attacked Palestinian farmers near the village of Abu Falah on October 16, throwing stones, setting olive trees on fire, and assaulting residents. During the incident, Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was knocked down, kicked, and injured despite wearing press identification, and had her equipment stolen before being hospitalized. On October 19, Israeli police announced the arrest of 10 suspects in connection with the investigation into the events.

The following day, near the village of Taybeh, masked settlers reportedly attacked a delegation that included diplomats from Belgium, France, and Poland, alongside a French mayor, Catholic representatives, and Palestinian residents. A Belgian diplomatic vehicle sustained damage, and several members of the delegation were assaulted.

Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, stated that settler violence and military-imposed access restrictions are causing severe economic disruption and suffering for Palestinians during the olive harvest. Morayef rejected assertions by Israeli officials that the violence represents isolated actions by individuals, characterizing the attacks as part of a state-sponsored policy aimed at displacing Palestinians.

Amnesty International urged foreign governments to ban trade with settlements, halt cooperation that supports the occupation, implement targeted sanctions on implicated officials, enact an arms embargo, and support international accountability efforts, including proceedings at the International Criminal Court.

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