Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank were involved in an attack on Palestinian olive harvesters and activists this week, sparking global condemnation after video footage of the assault surfaced. The incident, which occurred in the town of Turmus Ayya, resulted in serious injuries to at least one woman who was reportedly beaten with clubs by the settlers. The attack took place during this year’s olive harvest, highlighting a surge in settler violence targeting Palestinian farmers.
Videos captured masked settlers attacking farmers, with one individual seen running through an olive grove and striking multiple people, including a woman who fell to the ground. Another video showed a group of masked men chasing a car down a village road and attempting to club the vehicle before pursuing the passenger who managed to escape. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the head of the West Bank police force expressed concern over the video and instructed officers to locate and bring the attacker to justice.
The United Nations and various human rights organizations have raised alarms over the escalating settler violence in the occupied territory coinciding with the olive harvest. According to Ajith Sunghay, the head of the UN Human Rights Office in the Palestinian territory, there has been a significant increase in armed settler attacks on Palestinians, including men, women, children, and foreign activists. The UN reported a 13 percent rise in settler attacks causing casualties or property damage in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year.
Turmus Ayya, known for its Palestinian-American population, has been a hotspot for settler violence, particularly after the Israel-Hamas conflict. The village, surrounded by Israeli settlements and unauthorized outposts, remains vulnerable to incursions. Tensions escalated following the killing of Palestinian-American teenager Amer Rabee by Israeli forces, leading to protests against settler violence and clashes between settlers and residents.
The annual olive harvest, crucial for many Palestinian families’ livelihoods, has been repeatedly targeted by settler attacks. The Palestinian Authority reported over 150 such attacks during the first week of the 2025 harvest alone. The West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip were captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.