Israeli settlers attack Palestinian olive pickers in West Bank, woman seriously injured

The incident took place Sunday in the town of Turmus Ayya, where masked Israeli settlers stormed olive groves, beating Palestinian farmers and international volunteers with clubs.

Videos obtained by the Associated Press showed a masked man striking at least two people, including a woman who was lying motionless on the ground. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah confirmed that the woman was hospitalized with severe injuries.

UN warns of rising settler violence

The United Nations and human rights organizations have expressed growing concern over escalating settler attacks during this year’s olive harvest.

“Settler violence has skyrocketed in scale and frequency,” said Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN Human Rights Office in the Palestinian territories. “Just two weeks into the 2025 harvest, we’ve already seen brutal attacks on Palestinian men, women, children, and foreign solidarity activists.”

Video evidence shows chaos and arson

Additional footage showed more than a dozen masked men chasing a car down a village road adjacent to an olive grove. One settler smashed the vehicle with a club and tried to pull passengers out before they escaped on foot.

A third video depicted flames and smoke rising from several torched cars, indicating that the assault escalated into arson.

Police vow justice but remain silent publicly

According to Israel’s Channel 12, the head of the West Bank police admitted in an internal message that the video of the attack “kept him up at night” and ordered officers to bring the perpetrators to justice.

However, the Israeli military and police have not commented publicly on the attack despite repeated media requests.

A community under siege

Turmus Ayya, a predominantly Palestinian-American town, has long been a flashpoint for settler violence. Residents say attacks have intensified since the killing of 14-year-old Palestinian-American Amer Rabee by Israeli forces in April.

The village lies in a valley surrounded by Israeli settlements and outposts, leaving it exposed to near-daily confrontations.

150 attacks in one week

According to Muayyad Shaaban, who monitors settler violence for the Palestinian Authority, the first week of the olive harvest saw over 150 attacks and more than 700 olive trees destroyed or poisoned.

The UN reported that the first half of 2025 recorded 757 settler assaults, a 13% rise compared to last year.

Decades of occupation

Israel seized the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip during the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians seek these territories for a future independent state.

Today, settler advocates hold key Cabinet positions in Israel’s government, giving them significant influence over policy in the occupied territories — a factor rights groups say has emboldened violence against Palestinians.