Violence Erupts as Israeli Settler Attacks Palestinian Woman During Olive Harvest

Tue Oct 21 2025 21:27:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A 55-year-old Palestinian woman has been hospitalized after being violently assaulted by a masked Israeli settler while picking olives in the occupied West Bank. The incident raises concerns over the safety of Palestinian farmers during their harvest.

In a shocking incident captured on video, a 55-year-old Palestinian woman was clubbed over the head by a masked Israeli settler in Turmus Ayya village, leading to her hospitalization. The unprovoked attack occurred amid a backdrop of increasing assaults on Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest season. Following the attack, there are claims of Israeli soldiers being present and allegedly enabling the confrontation. As tensions rise, this incident highlights the precarious conditions faced by Palestinians in the West Bank.

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 stated that the settler knocked the woman unconscious with the first strike of his stick, before hitting her again as she lay on the ground. She has been named locally as Umm Saleh Abu Alia.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the confrontation was dispersed after its forces arrived, asserting that it 'strongly condemns any form of violence' by settlers.

However, Mr. Nathaniel alleged that Israeli soldiers were on-site before the attack, claiming they had lured him and others into an 'ambush' just before the settlers assaulted them. The BBC has reached out to the IDF for a response to these allegations.

At least 80% of residents in Turmus Ayya hold US citizenship or residency, raising further interest in the incident among US authorities. During the attack, Mrs. Abu Alia was struck twice, resulting in visible bleeding as she was taken to a medical facility. Initially admitted to intensive care, she is now reported to be in stable condition.

Her cousin, Hamdi Abu Alia, confirmed the attack, while Amin Abu Alia, the mayor of a nearby village, provided further details regarding the incident.

This assault aligns with a series of attacks involving masked settlers during the ongoing olive harvest, a vital cultural and economic activity for Palestinians. The harvest season has historically correlated with increased violence; reports note that half of the UN-documented settler attacks were connected to recent harvest activities, impacting residents in 27 villages.

In total, over 3,200 Palestinians have sustained injuries due to settler violence in 2025 alone. Such attacks aim to intimidate Palestinians and facilitate the seizing of their land, with a stark lack of accountability, as only 3% of investigations lead to convictions.