An American journalist for The Washington Post was assaulted by masked Israeli settlers during an incident in the West Bank on Friday, as footage reveals. The journalist, 64-year-old Heidi Levine, had been documenting Palestinian villagers harvesting olives when the attack occurred. A video shared by independent journalist Jasper Nathaniel shows her being kicked and struck with clubs by the settlers, who also stole her equipment.
Levine described the terrifying aftermath, saying, “They took everything. They took all my stuff.” When asked about her condition, she bluntly replied: “No, I’m going to die.”
This video captures settlers beating Heidi. They clubbed her, kicked her. Pulled her up off the ground to beat her more. Robbed her of all her equipment. If she didn’t have a helmet—and if she was Palestinian—she could be dead. https://t.co/hKV5coFvaD
— jasper nathaniel (@infinite_jaz) October 16, 2026
In a statement, Matt Murray, the executive editor of The Washington Post, condemned the attack, noting that Levine was clearly marked as a journalist. “While we are relieved that Heidi has received medical care and is safe, we are outraged by this unwarranted attack on a journalist doing her job and urge a thorough investigation and follow-through from authorities,” he said.
According to witnesses speaking to Reuters, around 80 Israeli settlers coordinated their attack, setting fire to cars and throwing rocks in the village of Abu Falah, near Ramallah. They reported that Israeli soldiers deployed tear gas towards Palestinians, and the violence persisted even after their arrival. At least one Israeli soldier shot a Palestinian man in the leg during the chaos.
Witness Nathaniel remarked, “They do nothing to stop the settlers, and they speed into town and start firing their guns and tear-gassing, and they shoot a Palestinian man in the leg.” He also noted that they aggressively confronted journalists trying to cover the incident.
Levine received assistance from her Palestinian colleagues, who helped her reach an ambulance after the attack. Speaking from her hospital bed, she reflected, “I was attacked, pushed to the ground. Luckily I had my flak jacket and helmet; otherwise, I probably wouldn’t even be here, because they just kept kicking me.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem addressed the incident, stating, “The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans.” They confirmed they were monitoring the situation and emphasized that they condemn any form of violence in the West Bank, calling for investigations to hold those responsible accountable.
However, the spokesperson noted that due to privacy concerns, they could not provide further comments.
