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 said 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) told the BBC the confrontation was dispersed after its forces arrived and that it strongly condemns any form of violence by settlers. However, Mr. Nathaniel said Israeli soldiers were on-site prior to the attack and had lured him and others into an ambush. He claimed soldiers sped off just before the settlers launched the assault. At least 80% of residents of Turmus Ayya hold US citizenship or residency, according to Israeli media. The BBC has reached out to the US State Department and US embassy for comment.
The young male attacker is seen wielding a large wooden stick with a knot at one end, reminiscent of a club, before he swings it overhead and strikes Mrs. Abu Alia. The mother of five is seen bleeding as she is carried into a vehicle to be taken to hospital. She was initially admitted to an intensive care unit but is now in a stable condition, doctors indicate. Her cousin reported that medical staff found she had been struck twice in the head.
The attack came amid a wider incident where at least 15 masked settlers hurled stones and attacked other Palestinians who were harvesting olives, alongside activists including Mr. Nathaniel. The harvest, which began on October 9th, is a significant component of Palestinian culture and economy, yet it has become increasingly perilous.
Farmers across the West Bank face elevated risks during the harvest season, experiencing organized assaults and blockades by Israeli security forces preventing access to their lands. According to the UN's humanitarian office, Ocha, of the 71 settler attacks documented across the West Bank between October 7th and 13th, half were related to the ongoing olive harvest season.
In 2025, more than 3,200 Palestinians have been injured in settler attacks, highlighting how these violent occurrences aim to intimidate Palestinians, often leading to unpunished acts of violence. Official investigations into settler violence from 2005 to 2023 revealed a mere 3% resulted in convictions. The rising violence throws a spotlight on the precarious existence of Palestinian farmers during this season.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC the confrontation was dispersed after its forces arrived and that it strongly condemns any form of violence by settlers. However, Mr. Nathaniel said Israeli soldiers were on-site prior to the attack and had lured him and others into an ambush. He claimed soldiers sped off just before the settlers launched the assault. At least 80% of residents of Turmus Ayya hold US citizenship or residency, according to Israeli media. The BBC has reached out to the US State Department and US embassy for comment.
The young male attacker is seen wielding a large wooden stick with a knot at one end, reminiscent of a club, before he swings it overhead and strikes Mrs. Abu Alia. The mother of five is seen bleeding as she is carried into a vehicle to be taken to hospital. She was initially admitted to an intensive care unit but is now in a stable condition, doctors indicate. Her cousin reported that medical staff found she had been struck twice in the head.
The attack came amid a wider incident where at least 15 masked settlers hurled stones and attacked other Palestinians who were harvesting olives, alongside activists including Mr. Nathaniel. The harvest, which began on October 9th, is a significant component of Palestinian culture and economy, yet it has become increasingly perilous.
Farmers across the West Bank face elevated risks during the harvest season, experiencing organized assaults and blockades by Israeli security forces preventing access to their lands. According to the UN's humanitarian office, Ocha, of the 71 settler attacks documented across the West Bank between October 7th and 13th, half were related to the ongoing olive harvest season.
In 2025, more than 3,200 Palestinians have been injured in settler attacks, highlighting how these violent occurrences aim to intimidate Palestinians, often leading to unpunished acts of violence. Official investigations into settler violence from 2005 to 2023 revealed a mere 3% resulted in convictions. The rising violence throws a spotlight on the precarious existence of Palestinian farmers during this season.
