Committee For Protection of Journalists – Oct 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.
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