Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villagers, activists, and journalists on Saturday, November 8, during an olive harvest near a settler outpost south of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, witnesses said.
Two Reuters employees, a journalist and a security adviser, were among those injured. Attackers wielded sticks, clubs, and large rocks.
The incident occurred in Beita, an area that has seen repeated settler attacks in recent years, which have increased since the war in Gaza began two years ago. Harvest season, which started in October, has frequently been a flashpoint.
Journalists Targeted in Attack
Reuters journalist Raneen Sawafta and her security adviser Grant Bowden were assaulted while wearing helmets and protective jackets labeled “Press.” Sawafta was repeatedly struck with rocks and sticks, and her camera equipment was destroyed. An ambulance transported both to a hospital in Nablus for medical checks.
Israeli activist Jonathan Pollak, who witnessed the attack, said about 50 masked settlers participated. “They beat her without mercy, continuing to stone her while she was on the ground and attacking anyone who tried to help,” he said.
Al Jazeera journalist Mohammed Alatrash described settlers armed with batons and sharp tools, masked, and hurling stones as villagers and journalists retreated. Munther Amira, of the Palestinian Authority’s Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, likened the attack to a “zombie assault” by 30–40 settlers.
Responses from Israeli Authorities
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said soldiers were dispatched after reports of a confrontation. The military condemned all violence, stating police would conduct further review. Witnesses said no Israeli soldiers were present during the attack.
A spokesperson for the Shomron Regional Council, representing settlements in the area, did not respond to requests for comment. Israeli police also did not immediately respond.
Context: Rising Settler Violence
In October, Israeli settlers carried out at least 264 attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, the highest monthly total since U.N. officials began tracking such incidents in 2006. Israeli human rights groups report that such attacks are rarely investigated and perpetrators are seldom held accountable.
Activists often accompany Palestinians during olive harvests to document incidents and ensure their right to work the land. Settler outposts, typically unapproved by Israeli authorities, are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
China recorded the world’s largest-ever trade surplus in 2025, reaching $1.2 trillion as exporters shifted focus away from the U.S. amid ongoing tra...
Iran’s temporary shutdown of its airspace prompted flight diversions and fresh safety warnings on Wednesday as regional tensions disrupted airline o...
The United Nations has called on Uganda to lift a nationwide internet blackout ahead of Thursday’s general election, describing the restrictions as ...
Whole milk is heading back to school cafeterias across the U.S. after President Donald Trump signed a bill overturning Obama-era limits on higher-fat ...
NASA is carrying out the first emergency return in International Space Station history after an astronaut aboard Crew-11 suffered a serious medical co...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he has been informed the killing of anti-government protesters in Iran has stopped and that planned executions would not go ahead, though details remain unclear.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Wednesday that Denmark was unable to change the U.S. position on Greenland after talks with American officials in Washington.
As tensions between Iran and the U.S. persist, authorities in Tehran are facing another problem—this time at home.
The United Kingdom and the United States are withdrawing military personnel from bases in the Middle East as tensions with Iran rise, following Tehran’s warning to regional allies that it would target U.S. bases if Washington takes military action.
The Trump administration will suspend all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries beginning 21 January 2026, according to a State Department memo reported by media.
Saudi Arabia has informed Iran that it will not allow its territory or airspace to be used for any military action against Tehran, according to two sources close to the kingdom’s government cited by AFP.
Sweden is sending a group of military officers to Greenland at Denmark’s request, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday, as Nordic countries and NATO allies step up coordination around the Arctic territory.
Israel and Arab States have urged the U.S. to delay any potential military action against Iran, warning that such a move could undermine ongoing protests inside the country, according to NBC News.
Boeing booked more aircraft orders than Airbus in 2025 for the first time since 2018, official figures showed, even as the European manufacturer delivered more planes during the year.
Iran’s temporary shutdown of its airspace prompted flight diversions and fresh safety warnings on Wednesday as regional tensions disrupted airline operations across the Middle East.
Georgia’s decision to indefinitely suspend the Anaklia deep-water port project has stripped the country of a historic chance to become a key link in global trade routes, according to the Transport Corridor Research Center (TCRC).
Saudi Arabia has informed Iran that it will not allow its territory or airspace to be used for any military action against Tehran, according to two sources close to the kingdom’s government cited by AFP.
Iran’s chief justice Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei has urged rapid trials for detainees accused of violent acts, warning that delays reduce the impact of judicial action.
Baku is set to host its first international conference examining India’s policies towards ethnic and religious minorities, with a particular focus on the Sikh community.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment