In a distressing incident reported from the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya, a 55-year-old woman named Umm Saleh Abu Alia was hospitalized after being struck on the head by a masked Israeli settler using a heavy stick. The attack occurred while she was picking olives, a crucial activity for many Palestinians, especially during the harvest season which has recently begun. The moment of violence was documented on video by US journalist Jasper Nathaniel, who described the settler's initial strike knocking her unconscious. Following the brutal attack, she required immediate medical attention and was initially admitted to intensive care.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, they arrived shortly after the attack and expressed strong condemnation of the violence. However, Nathaniel alleged that Israeli soldiers had previously lured him and others into a precarious situation, departing just before the settlers launched their assault.
The impact of this violence extends beyond individual incidents; it reflects broader tensions surrounding the olive harvest, which has seen a spike in aggressiveness from settlers against Palestinian communities. Recent reports indicate that at least 80% of residents in Turmus Ayya hold US citizenship or residency, raising concerns over the implications of such violence. Additionally, over 3,200 Palestinians have reportedly been injured in settler attacks throughout 2025, illuminating a troubling pattern of intimidation aimed at displacing Palestinians from their ancestral lands.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, they arrived shortly after the attack and expressed strong condemnation of the violence. However, Nathaniel alleged that Israeli soldiers had previously lured him and others into a precarious situation, departing just before the settlers launched their assault.
The impact of this violence extends beyond individual incidents; it reflects broader tensions surrounding the olive harvest, which has seen a spike in aggressiveness from settlers against Palestinian communities. Recent reports indicate that at least 80% of residents in Turmus Ayya hold US citizenship or residency, raising concerns over the implications of such violence. Additionally, over 3,200 Palestinians have reportedly been injured in settler attacks throughout 2025, illuminating a troubling pattern of intimidation aimed at displacing Palestinians from their ancestral lands.
