Israeli settlers assaulted European diplomats, including a French mayor, near the Palestinian village of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, 17 October 2026. The group was visiting Palestinian olive harvesters when the attackers confronted them. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said the settlers targeted Belgium’s consul general, French and Polish diplomats, and Catholic representatives.
“A French mayor was assaulted and a Belgian vehicle damaged,” Prevot said. He linked the incident to Israel’s “illegal settlement policy” and pledged to push for further EU sanctions. Bernard Baudoux, the French mayor who was assaulted, told AFP the attack suggests that “there is a tolerance on the part of the Israeli government” towards settler violence.
Video shared by activist Amit Orfali shows Baudoux leaning against a vehicle while sitting on the dusty ground. Other clips showed young masked men knocking on a driver’s side window and asking for identification, while other masked men carrying sticks advanced. Orfali said the masked men “threatened to kill us”.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called on Israel to arrest the “extremist settlers” who “violently assaulted” Baudoux and to bring them to justice. He said they must halt the violence and guarantee the safety of civilians under international law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described the reports as “alleged” and said they require “compelling evidence”, while acknowledging that published footage exists.
On Sunday the EU condemned the attacks on European diplomats and Palestinians. It noted condemnations by several Israeli representatives and said it expects full accountability and effective measures to prevent violence and harassment against Palestinians during the olive harvest, and against journalists. The attacks come amid a surge in settler violence in recent weeks, shortly before Israel’s election on 27 October.
On 16 October, settlers attacked Palestinian farmers harvesting olives and veteran American journalist Heidi Levine, 64, who freelances for the Washington Post. Witness Jasper Nathaniel told Al Jazeera she was on the ground while people beat her, clubbed her, robbed her, pulled her up, beat her again and kicked her. Levine later said her attackers “just kept kicking me and kicking me, like probably 50 times”. She was wearing a protective vest marked “PRESS”. The Washington Post reported that her cameras and phone were taken. She was taken to a hospital in Ramallah.
Nathaniel said Israeli soldiers arrived after the assault, opened fire and used tear gas, shooting a Palestinian man in the leg. He said soldiers pointed guns at paramedics and shoved journalists. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli forces fired live ammunition and tear gas. Netanyahu’s office said the facts “remain unclear” and called for an investigation into “who initiated the violence”.
On 6 October, settlers beat AFP photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh, 58, with rifle butts near Aqraba, south of Nablus. Witnesses, his family and fellow journalists told AFP he suffered bruises to his head and torso and was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Nablus, where he was conscious. AFP photographer John Wessels said a quadbike raced towards the journalists, a man opened live fire, and at least six other people rushed them while firing guns. Ashtiyeh’s camera equipment was taken. The Israeli military had yet to respond to AFP.
On 11 July 2026, US Congressional Representative Ro Khanna said rifle-wielding Israeli settlers detained him and his tour group. He wrote that when the Israeli army arrived, it sided with the settlers and continued the detention. He told Reuters that “hoodlums … with machine guns” blocked the road and that the settlers were armed with US-made assault rifles. The Israeli military said it “dispersed” civilians who were blocking the road. Israeli officials ruled out apologising to Khanna or holding the settlers accountable. On 17 October, Khanna called Netanyahu a “liar” after the prime minister’s office questioned details of the attack on Levine, writing that Netanyahu had called him a liar when settlers detained him and a New York Times photographer in Zanuta in July.
In November 2025, one Canadian and three Italian activists were injured by settlers in Ein ad-Duyuk in the Jericho governorate, local sources told Anadolu. The agency said settlers stormed a Bedouin community, three activists sustained moderate injuries, one was critically wounded, and passports, phones and belongings were taken.
Palestinian activist and English teacher Awdah Hathaleen, 31, a contributor to the documentary No Other Land and a father of three, was shot and killed on 28 July 2025 in Umm al-Khair in the Masafer Yatta region. Footage published by the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem appears to show suspect Yinon Levi opening fire. Israeli authorities released Levi to house arrest despite prior EU and US sanctions over past attacks. US President Donald Trump removed penalties against Levi and other settlers accused of extremist violence after taking office in January 2025.
Settlers also attacked foreign volunteers helping Palestinian farmers near Qusra. American-German David Hummel told AFP that eight mainly American volunteers were beaten with sticks and metal pipes and had rocks thrown at them. He said he was struck on his legs, arms and jaw. The Israeli army condemned the violence and said troops fired warning shots into the air, after which the settlers fled.