Beirut, October 16, 2026 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the Friday Israeli settler attack on American journalist Heidi Levine, which wounded her while she was covering the olive harvest in Abu Fallah, near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Speaking to CPJ from her hospital bed, Levine, who is a freelancer for the Washington Post and had bandages around her hand and leg, told CPJ that she was “attacked by a gang of masked settlers”.
“They pushed me to the ground and they were kicking me for, I think at least 10 minutes,” she added, confirming that she had identified herself to them as an American journalist.
“Hopefully nothing is broken, but I will need stitches in my hand, stitches on my back.”
Levine said she did not personally see the Israeli military at the scene, but saw tear gas and stunt grenades fired, insinuating that Israeli soldiers must have been there. She also said her bag, camera, and phone were stolen during the attack.
The attack follows a wave of similar incidents against Palestinian and foreign journalists in the West Bank, including those covering the olive harvest.
Armed Israeli settlers attacked Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh on October 6. Media reports said settlers beat him with the butt of their rifles while Israeli soldiers watched without intervening. Quoting witnesses, AFP said he “suffered bruises to his head and torso and was taken by ambulance to a hospital”.
On October 8, 2026, Ricardo Esteves Ribeiro, a Portuguese correspondent for the independent outlet Fumaça was arrested in Rantis, northwest of Ramallah, and deported the following day.
Two days later near Ramallah, Israeli troops fired rubber bullets during clashes involving settlers, striking Palestinian photojournalist Issam al-Rimawi. Al-Rimawi told CPJ that he was wearing an identifiable “Press” vest when the incident occurred.
“The brutal beating of Heidi Levine is neither isolated nor the first on a journalist covering the olive harvest in the West Bank. It’s part of a disturbing pattern of violence and harassment against journalists regardless of their nationalities,” said Sara Qudah, CPJ regional director. “These repeated assaults are taking place in an environment where perpetrators have little reason to fear consequences. Israel’s failure to ensure accountability is emboldening those who attack journalists, while the international community’s continued silence sends a dangerous message that these violations can continue unchecked. CPJ has repeatedly called on Israeli authorities to put an end to these attacks and protect journalists, yet the violence continues.”
In September this year, CPJ documented an increase in intensity of settler attacks against journalists in the West Bank. In 2026 alone, CPJ has reviewed at least 16 incidents involving at least 35 local and international journalists that involved physical attacks, harassment, obstruction and intimidation of members of the press.
Commenting on the incident with Levine, the Israeli military said on X that “forces were dispatched to Khirbet Abu Falah following reports of a “violent confrontation” during which a female journalist was injured. The IDF stated that its forces used “riot-dispersal measures and fired warning shots before shooting toward a suspect carrying a sharp object.” The statement added that Israeli police and forensic investigators “will collect evidence” and testimonies to examine the incident. The IDF condemned “violence against innocent civilians” and called for “coordinated” efforts to “eradicate this phenomenon”.
The military did not immediately respond to CPJ’s request for comment on the attack against Levine.