Violent Attack on Palestinian Woman by Settler During Olive Harvest

Tue Oct 21 2025 03:01:55 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A 55-year-old Palestinian woman was hospitalized after being attacked by a masked Israeli settler in the occupied West Bank, highlighting ongoing tensions during the olive harvest season.

Umm Saleh Abu Alia, a Palestinian woman, suffered severe injuries after being clubbed by a masked settler while picking olives in Turmus Ayya, West Bank. The incident has been recorded and discussed widely amidst claims of organized settler violence during the current harvest season, which has escalated tensions between communities in the region.

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 identified locally as Umm Saleh Abu Alia.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the confrontation was dispersed after their forces arrived, adding they strongly condemn any form of violence by settlers.

However, Mr. Nathaniel accused Israeli soldiers of having been present before the attack and allegedly luring him into an ambush. He claimed that the soldiers left just as the settlers began their assault. The BBC has reached out for comment regarding these allegations from the IDF.

At least 80% of the residents of Turmus Ayya hold US citizenship or residency, according to Israeli media, prompting inquiries to the US State Department.

The young male attacker was recorded wielding a large, club-like stick before striking Mrs. Abu Alia, who was then seen bleeding as she was rushed to a hospital. Although initially admitted to intensive care, medical staff have reported her condition as stable.

Her cousin, Hamdi Abu Alia, confirmed that she suffered two head injuries, and Amin Abu Alia, the mayor of the neighboring village al-Mughayyir, corroborated the details of the attack.

This incident forms part of a larger trend of violence during the olive harvest season, which officially commenced on October 9. Numerous attacks have been reported, with at least 15 masked settlers involved in stone-throwing assaults against Palestinians and supportive activists, including Mr. Nathaniel.

Past incidents have revealed a pattern of intimidation to drive Palestinians from their lands, with the vast majority of attacks going unpunished.

According to the UN, over the week of October 7 to 13, half of the 71 settler attacks documented during this period related to the olive harvest, impacting residents in 27 villages. In 2025 alone, more than 3,200 Palestinians have reported injuries due to settler attacks in the West Bank.