Israel detains 10 colonists for attacks on Washington Post photographer and European diplomats in the West Bank

Israel arrests 10 settlers for attacking a photojournalist and diplomats October 19, 2026The Israel Police, along with the Shin Bet interior intelligence service, arrested ten suspects this Monday (10/19/2026) in the early morning during an operation in the occupied West Bank, in connection with the "acts of extreme violence" of the weekend. The operation, named 'Olive Branch', took place in several points around Ramallah (center of the West Bank), with the support of the Border Police, the Army, and the police air unit, according to a police statement. "Evidence, findings, and testimonies" to bring the settlers before the justice system During the operation, vehicles and objects that "link the suspects to the events attributed to them" were seized, and the detainees were sent for interrogation before they are judged by a court. "Since the incidents, we have worked to gather evidence, findings, and testimonies and build a basis of evidence that allows us to bring those involved before the justice system," added the commander of the Israeli Police in the West Bank, Moshe Pinchi. "Violent assault on a female journalist" and "suspicion of assault on foreign diplomats" The statement does not identify the detainees or name the victims, but mentions "the violent assault on a female journalist" and the "suspicion of assault on foreign diplomats who were in the area of the town of Taybeh", near Ramallah. Although the police does not name her, the journalist is Heidi Levine, an American photographer from the Washington Post, who was beaten by settlers on Friday (10/16/2026) while covering the annual olive harvest in the West Bank. On Saturday, masked Israeli settlers attacked a convoy of European diplomats and beat a French mayor near Taybeh, an attack for which the European Union has demanded "full accountability". "The law in Judea and Samaria applies to everyone, without distinction of identity or belonging," added the head of the Israeli Police, Daniel Levy, referring to the West Bank with a term popular among the right wing of Israel for that territory occupied by Israel since 1967. Without Netanyahu's condemnation, with opposition criticism of violence against foreigners The attacks occurred at a time of global outrage over the violence of the settlers in the West Bank. But the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces a difficult election for a new term on October 27, has tried to strengthen his right-wing base and cast doubt on the circumstances under which the recent attacks attributed to Israeli settlers occurred. According to his office, and despite the available images of masked settlers descending with sticks and batons from a hillside into Palestinian olive groves, it is not clear "who initiated the violence". The opposition considered that the attacks against foreigners tarnish Israel's image and accused Netanyahu of allowing violence. Earlier this same month, Israeli settlers attacked a photographer from the French agency AFP in Palestinian territory, veteran Jaafar Ashtiyeh, 58, and shot him and a colleague while covering the violence against Palestinian farmers in the West Bank. Do not let the algorithm hide the news. If you trust this site for reliable information, please take a moment to select us as your preferred source on Google: click here and check the box or press the DW.com button to always see our verified news in your preferences. rml (efe, afp)