Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was hospitalized after masked men beat her while she documented Palestinian olive pickers near Ramallah, an attack during a harvest that supports family income.
Levine told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), “They pushed me to the ground.” She said the attackers kicked her for at least 10 minutes and took her bag, camera and phone. The Washington Post reported that she suffered a broken rib and four broken vertebrae and would need hand surgery.
Matt Murray, executive editor of The Washington Post, said Levine wore visible markings identifying her as a journalist. The newspaper called for a thorough investigation.
The Israeli military said its forces went to the area after reports of what it called a “violent confrontation.” Troops used riot-dispersal measures and fired warning shots before shooting toward a person carrying a sharp object, the military said. It said police and forensic investigators would collect evidence and testimony. Israel Police said it had opened an investigation.
Witnesses told The Washington Post that soldiers were present and did not stop the assault. An Israeli military spokesperson said an initial review found troops had not seen Levine being attacked and were trying to disperse a large crowd. Levine told CPJ she did not see the military, although she saw tear gas and stun grenades.
The Associated Press reported that Israeli troops also shot village council member Abdel Jaber Hassan after arriving in Abu Falah. The military said the person ran toward soldiers carrying a sharp object; another council member told the AP that Hassan was unarmed and carrying olive-harvesting tools.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the facts remained unclear and described a confrontation involving about 200 Arab and left-wing activists and roughly 40 Israeli youths. The Associated Press cited a Palestinian Farmers’ Union estimate that about 110,000 families earn income from privately owned olive groves.
CPJ said it reviewed at least 16 incidents in 2026 involving at least 35 local and international journalists in the West Bank, including physical attacks, harassment, obstruction and intimidation. The group also reported that settlers attacked Agence France-Presse photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh on Oct. 6.
