Unprovoked Attack on Palestinian Woman Highlights Tensions During Olive Harvest

Tue Oct 21 2025 21:27:45 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A 55-year-old Palestinian woman, Umm Saleh Abu Alia, is hospitalized after being assaulted by a masked Israeli settler in the West Bank, an incident that raises concerns about the safety of Palestinians during the olive harvest season.

A 55-year-old Palestinian woman was recently attacked by a masked Israeli settler while picking olives in the West Bank. The assault, captured on video, left her hospitalized and sparked discussions about the rising violence associated with the olive harvest, a critical cultural and economic activity for Palestinians. Despite condemnation from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), evidence suggests a pattern of violence and intimidation aimed at Palestinian farmers during this season.

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 the woman unconscious with the first strike of his stick, then struck her again as she lay on the ground. The woman, identified as Umm Saleh Abu Alia, was later taken to a hospital.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that they condemned the violence and claimed to have intervened in the situation, but Mr. Nathaniel alleged that soldiers were present before the attack and may have lured civilians into an ambush. This accuses the military of not providing adequate protection during harvest time.

Umm Saleh Abu Alia's attack coincided with broader incidents of violence involving masked settlers targeting Palestinian olive harvesters and their supporters. Such incidents have become distressingly common, particularly during the olive harvest season, which began this October.

Farmers in the West Bank face significant risks while harvesting olives, a practice central to Palestinian culture and economy. Reports indicate that during the first week of the harvest, half of the 71 documented settler attacks were related to harvest activities.

Many Palestinians believe settler violence aims to intimidate and displace them from their lands. A civil rights group reported that only 3% of investigations into settler violence resulted in a conviction between 2005 and 2023, raising concerns about accountability.