Arrests over Israeli settler attacks on US photojournalist and European diplomats in West Bank

Ten suspects have been arrested in connection with recent violence in the West Bank including attacks on an ​American ⁠photojournalist and European ⁠diplomats, Israeli police have said.

Officers did not identify the suspects, who were detained during a pre-dawn operation on Monday and taken into custody for questioning.

They were arrested on suspicion of involvement in acts of violence, violating a closed military zone order and illegal construction. All of those held were Israeli citizens, Israel's Army Radio reported.

A video released by police of the raids appeared to show two slingshots, used to hurl stones, being found at a property.

Police officers, military forces and the Shin Bet domestic security service took part in the joint operation.

Referring to the West Bank by its biblical name "Judea and Samaria", Israeli police commissioner Daniel Levy said in a statement that officers were "committed to professional, equal, and impartial law enforcement, based on evidence and in accordance with the law". He said the law applies to everyone "regardless of identity or affiliation".

Masked Israeli settlers on Friday burned olive trees and threw rocks as Palestinians from Abu Falah gathered to pick fruit during the annual harvest.

Dozens of Israelis, including a number who were carrying gas canisters, descended from a hill above the olive grove and some used slings to launch rocks towards villagers, who threw stones to defend themselves.

Heidi Levine, an award-winning photojournalist with The Washington Post who was covering the harvest, was seriously injured in the attack.

She said she was forced to the ground and beaten for more than 10 minutes by the settlers, who also stole her camera, passport and phone.

Footage showed the photographer lying on her side on a dirt path with her hands over her face as at least three settlers surrounded her.

Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, condemned the attack as "a despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards".

He said the assault on Ms Levine was "vicious" and "dishonourable", and noted she was clearly identified as a journalist when she was attacked.

The ambassador and The Washington Post called for a full and transparent investigation.

Israeli settlers also attacked European diplomats, Palestinians and a ⁠French mayor on ⁠Saturday in the Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank.

Belgium's foreign minister Maxime Prevot said the country's consul general to the Palestinians, as well as French and Polish diplomats, and Catholic representatives were targeted by the masked settlers along with a Belgian vehicle.

Bernard Baudoux, mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in northern France, said he was "thrown to the ground" near the village while harvesting olives in solidarity with the local community.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the diplomats entered a "sensitive area with ⁠a history of confrontations without prior coordination" with the Israeli military, and the facts of the attack on Ms Levine were "unclear".

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Palestinian vice president Hussein al-Sheikh said its citizens were subjected to "daily terrorism" and called for a "firm international stance" following the attacks.

Israel has previously claimed that settler violence is carried out by a ‌small minority - which is disputed by Palestinians and human rights groups.

The attacks have increased sharply in recent years and also affected journalists, activists and foreign observers.

Prosecutions of Israeli settlers ⁠are rare.

(c) Sky News 2026: Arrests over Israeli settler attacks on US photojournalist and European diplomats in West Bank<