Palestine News Today: Settler violence surges during olive harvest as Gaza aid blockage deepens

17 October 2026. Today's coverage centres on a wave of settler attacks disrupting the West Bank olive harvest, including the assault on a Washington Post photographer that has drawn condemnation from the US and UN. Elsewhere, Gaza's humanitarian crisis continues amid a halt in commercial goods, while Italy's investigation into alleged abuse of flotilla activists widens to include Israel's defence minister.

Washington Post photographer attacked by settlers in West Bank

Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was beaten by a group of masked Israeli settlers while covering the olive harvest in Abu Falah, the Guardian reports, with at least six people injured in the attack. The BBC confirmed witnessing masked settlers assaulting Palestinians attempting to harvest olives amid what it described as a surge in similar incidents. Levine told Middle East Eye from hospital that her son has long feared she would be killed by settlers while reporting on the violence Palestinians face.

Sources: The Guardian, The Guardian, BBC News, Middle East Eye

US and UN condemn West Bank settler violence

The US State Department said it was greatly concerned by the attack on Levine and had offered her consular assistance, while condemning what it called criminal violence by any party, according to Anadolu Agency and Middle East Monitor. US Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and other lawmakers called on the Trump administration to hold Israeli settlers accountable, questioning what violence Palestinians endure when no witnesses are present, Middle East Eye reports. A UN deputy spokesman separately condemned the harassment of journalists, Anadolu Agency reports.

Sources: Anadolu Agency, Middle East Monitor, Middle East Eye, Anadolu Agency

Olive harvest attacks exceed last year's total, UN says

The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says settler attacks linked to this year's olive harvest have already surpassed 2025 figures, with nearly 200 incidents causing casualties or property damage compared with 185 recorded during the entire previous season, Middle East Eye reports. Middle East Monitor reports that 14 people, including two foreign journalists, were injured in attacks by Israeli settlers across the West Bank. Separately, Middle East Eye reports that settlers opened fire on and attacked Palestinian farmers in Deir Jarir, injuring three people a day earlier, and attacked homes near Hebron.

Sources: Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor, Middle East Eye

Rabbi's ruling used to justify seizing Palestinian olive harvest

A prominent Israeli rabbi has issued a religious ruling permitting settlers to take Palestinian olive harvests, claiming the land belongs to Jews and that harvesting the olives demonstrates ownership, according to Israeli Channel 13 as reported by Anadolu Agency and Middle East Monitor. Anadolu Agency separately reports that Israeli government decisions have expanded gun access for settlers and ended administrative detention against them, which rights advocates say is fuelling further violence in the West Bank.

Sources: Anadolu Agency, Middle East Monitor, Anadolu Agency

Italy widens flotilla abuse probe to Israeli defence minister

Italian prosecutors have placed Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz and senior military, police and prison officials under investigation over the alleged torture and abuse of Gaza flotilla activists, Middle East Eye reports. The probe, previously focused on far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, now also names 12 senior officials over alleged abuse and sexual assault of detained activists, according to Al Jazeera. The case concerns suspected torture, kidnapping, personal injury and robbery of those detained.

Sources: Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera

Gaza food shortages worsen as Israel halts commercial goods

Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and winter clothing have not entered Gaza for two days, raising fears over food affordability as Israel halts the entry of commercial goods, Al Jazeera reports. The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 466 Palestinians, including 157 children, have died of starvation since 2024, according to Middle East Monitor and Anadolu Agency. Separately, Anadolu Agency reports that Israeli drone fire killed a Palestinian in northwestern Gaza despite the ceasefire, with another Palestinian dying of wounds from a strike the previous day and four others, including a woman and a girl, injured in a residential building strike.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Middle East Monitor, Anadolu Agency, Anadolu Agency

China and Turkiye urge action over settlement expansion

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Israel to halt what he called the forced establishment of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, holding separate meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials in Baku, according to Anadolu Agency and Middle East Monitor. Turkiye's parliament speaker told a European conference of parliamentary presidents in Rome that the international community cannot remain silent over Israel's violations of international law, Middle East Monitor reports.

Sources: Anadolu Agency, Middle East Monitor, Middle East Monitor

Nineteen countries condemn Colombia's Jerusalem embassy move

The foreign ministers of Turkiye and 18 other countries have strongly condemned Colombia's inauguration of its embassy in Jerusalem, expressing unequivocal rejection of the decision in a joint statement released by Turkiye's foreign ministry, Middle East Monitor reports.

Sources: Middle East Monitor

Israeli military raid injures and detains Palestinians in Jenin area

A Palestinian was injured after being beaten by Israeli forces during a raid on Al-Yamun, west of Jenin, with the Palestine Red Crescent Society treating the wounded man, Middle East Eye reports citing Wafa. Israeli forces also detained three young men from the town after raiding several homes, including those of former detainees. Separately, a report cited by Middle East Eye found more than half of minors held in Israeli prisons in 2025, the vast majority Palestinian, were placed in solitary confinement at least once, including five boys aged 13 to 14.

Sources: Middle East Eye, Middle East Eye

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