Brutal Assault: Masked Israeli Settler Clubs Palestinian Woman in West Bank

Tue Oct 21 2025 03:55:11 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A 55-year-old Palestinian woman, Umm Saleh Abu Alia, is recovering in the hospital after an unprovoked attack by a masked Israeli settler while she was picking olives in the occupied West Bank. The assault highlights increasing tensions and violence during the olive harvest season.

In a shocking incident captured on video, a Palestinian woman was violently attacked by a masked Israeli settler in the West Bank while she was picking olives. The attack has drawn attention to the heightened risks faced by Palestinians during the harvest season, with many residents feeling vulnerable due to ongoing tensions and sporadic violence from settlers. The woman was hospitalized with head injuries, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability and safety in the area.

A 55-year-old Palestinian woman has been taken to hospital after being clubbed over the head by a masked Jewish settler as she was picking olives.

The unprovoked attack, which took place on Sunday morning in the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya in the occupied West Bank, was captured on video by US journalist Jasper Nathaniel.

Mr. Nathaniel reported that the settler knocked Umm Saleh Abu Alia unconscious with the first strike of his stick, before hitting her again as she lay on the ground.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the confrontation was dispersed after their forces arrived, condemning any form of violence by settlers.

However, Nathaniel alleged that Israeli soldiers were on-site before the attack and had lured him and others into an ambush, suggesting that soldiers left the scene just before the settlers attacked.

Umm Saleh was reportedly struck twice on the head and was initially admitted to an intensive care unit but is now in stable condition. Her cousin, Hamdi Abu Alia, and local officials confirmed details of the attack.

The incident occurred amid a broader pattern of violence, with at least 15 masked settlers seen attacking Palestinians and activists harvesting olives in the area. These assaults come as the olive harvest, an essential and cultural tradition in Palestinian society, is taking place.

According to the UN’s humanitarian office, Ocha, about half of the documented settler attacks in the West Bank between October 7 and 13 were related to the olive harvest. In 2025, over 3,200 Palestinians have reportedly been injured in settler attacks.

The spate of such incidents raises questions about protection for Palestinian farmers and the accountability of settler actions, as most attacks go unpunished, with very few resulting in convictions.