Israeli settlers allegedly attacked three activists in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair in the Masafer Yatta area of the occupied West Bank, according to Russian activist Adele Shoko.
Shoko said she, US journalist Jasper Nathaniel and Israeli-Russian activist Andrey X were beaten and threatened by armed settlers, who also took equipment and personal belongings.
In posts on X, Shoko said Nathaniel was pepper-sprayed and detained by Israeli forces after the assault. She said she had also been beaten.
Shoko alleged that Andrey X suffered a concussion and repeatedly lost consciousness during the attack. She said he was denied hospital treatment despite being placed in an ambulance.
“Andrey was severely beaten and lost consciousness several times in front of police. Despite this, he was denied hospital treatment,” she wrote. “He was put in an ambulance – but instead of being taken to hospital, he was taken to a police station. He is still there, arrested and being denied medical care.”
Video posted by Shoko appeared to show several men, some armed, beating Nathaniel and Andrey X. In another clip, Israeli authorities were seen leading Nathaniel away as he shouted that he had just been attacked.
The allegations follow an incident on October 16 in Abu Falah, north-east of Ramallah, where masked Israeli settlers reportedly attacked Palestinian farmers harvesting olives. Trees were set alight and stones were thrown using slingshots.
Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine, who was covering that attack, was beaten, robbed and taken to hospital. Levine said she was wearing a protective vest marked “PRESS” when settlers repeatedly kicked and struck her, taking her passport, phone and camera equipment.
A Palestinian man was shot in the leg by Israeli soldiers who arrived at the scene and fired live ammunition and tear gas. Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray condemned what he called an “unwarranted attack on a journalist doing her job”, while several US lawmakers called for an investigation and an end to settler violence in the region.
