Activists Report Assault on Journalist and Activists by Israeli Settlers in West Bank

Russian activist Adele Shoko reported that she, U.S. journalist Jasper Nathaniel and Israeli-Russian activist Andrey X were attacked by armed settlers in the West Bank village of Umm al-Khair, part of the Masafer Yatta area. Shoko posted on X that the three were beaten, that Nathaniel was pepper-sprayed and taken away by Israeli forces, and that Andrey X suffered a concussion, lost consciousness several times and was denied hospital treatment, being taken to a police station instead.

"Jasper and I were also beaten. Jasper was then pepper-sprayed and arrested," Shoko wrote.

"Andrey was severely beaten and lost consciousness several times in front of police. Despite this, he was denied hospital treatment. 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," she added.

Video posted by Shoko shows several men, some armed, striking Nathaniel and Andrey X, followed by footage of Israeli authorities escorting Nathaniel away while he shouted that he had just been beaten.

The incident follows a prior attack on October 16 in Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah, where masked settlers assaulted Palestinian olive-harvesters, set trees on fire and used slingshots. Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine, covering that event, was also beaten, robbed and hospitalized after settlers kicked her and stole her equipment. Executive Editor Matt Murray of the Washington Post called the incident an "unwarranted attack on a journalist doing her job," and several U.S. lawmakers have called for an investigation into settler violence in the area.