West Bank Assault: Three Reporters Beaten by Settlers
A Russian activist claims armed settlers stole 32 items and detained three colleagues in Umm al-Khair, continuing a pattern of violence against press.
By Trevor Wilson ·
Violence against international observers in the West Bank has intensified over the past two weeks, with new allegations of physical assault emerging from a remote village.
Russian activist Adele Shoko posted on social media on October 29 that she, US journalist Jasper Nathaniel, and Israeli-Russian activist Andrey X were attacked by armed settlers in Umm al-Khair. The village is located in the Masafer Yatta area. Shoko stated that the group was beaten and threatened while the settlers confiscated equipment and personal belongings.
Shoko reported that Nathaniel was pepper-sprayed and subsequently taken into custody by Israeli forces. She described Andrey X as having suffered a concussion and losing consciousness multiple times during the incident. According to her account, X was denied hospital treatment despite being placed in an ambulance. Authorities transported him to a police station instead of a hospital, where he remained detained.
Video footage shared by Shoko shows several men, some holding weapons, striking Nathaniel and X. Another clip captures Israeli authorities leading Nathaniel away as he shouts that he had just been beaten. The incident follows a similar event on October 16 in Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah. During that incident, masked settlers attacked Palestinian farmers harvesting olives, setting trees on fire and using slingshots.
Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was covering the Abu Falah attack. She stated that settlers kicked and beat her on the ground while she wore a vest marked PRESS. They stole her passport, phone, and camera gear. A Palestinian man standing nearby was shot in the leg by Israeli soldiers who arrived with live ammunition and tear gas. Levine was later hospitalized.
Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray described the Abu Falah incident as an unwarranted attack on a journalist. Several US lawmakers called for an investigation into the events and demanded an end to settler violence. The new reports from Umm al-Khair add to a growing list of injuries and detentions involving foreign press members in the region.
Source: Al Jazeera
