A Washington Post photojournalist underwent surgery after Israeli settlers severely beat her while she covered the annual Palestinian olive harvest in Abu Falah, near Ramallah. The assault took place on Friday and was caught on video.
Heidi Levine’s finger was nearly detached. Her daughter, Ashley Milner, told the Associated Press that a finger on Levine’s left hand was severed to the bone, leaving a tendon exposed, The Times of Israel reported. The same account said she also suffered a broken rib and several broken vertebrae.
Levine was attacked while working in Abu Falah. Afterward she sat on the ground and said, “I’m going to die.” Of her equipment she said, “They took everything,” and “They took all my stuff.” People nearby urged her to run, but on footage of the incident she can be heard saying she could not. Asked if she was okay, she answered “No” and repeated, “I’m going to die.” A group of men eventually carried her to safety.
The violence continued on Saturday in the village of Taybeh. According to an Army Radio report cited by The Times of Israel, diplomats from France, Belgium and Poland also faced violence there. Masked settlers allegedly descended on the village in all-terrain vehicles, surrounded the diplomats’ cars, demanded identification and smashed the window of at least one vehicle. The attackers threw stones, and diplomats were seen lying on the ground.
Israeli police later said they were probing the incident. “Upon receiving the footage, police opened an investigation, and the Foreign Ministry was also notified to locate the victims, collect testimony, and identify the suspects so they can be brought to justice,” the police told The Times of Israel. They vowed to “pursue these investigations to ensure that all those involved in these incidents are brought to justice.”