West Bank

View all West Bank stories →

BBC News and Sky News reported that European diplomats observing the olive harvest in the occupied West Bank were confronted by masked settlers. BBC News said France demanded that Israel crack down on the violence and that Belgium condemned the assault and called for those responsible to be brought to justice. It said the diplomats were from Belgium, France, Poland and the Catholic Church and had gone to a largely Christian village near Ramallah. Sky News said Israeli police were investigating the reported attack in the village of Taiber, north of Jerusalem. It reported that Belgium's foreign minister said their consul general was among the group, that French and Polish diplomats and Catholic Church representatives were also there, and that Poland's foreign ministry called the incident absolutely unacceptable. Sky News also reported that Israel's foreign minister called those involved rioters but said it was unfortunate the visit had not been coordinated with the military. Both channels reported an earlier separate settler attack in another West Bank village in which Palestinians and Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine were injured. BBC News said the diplomat incident came a day after that assault and that US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the attack on the American photojournalist a despicable act of terror by masked cowards and urged prosecution. Sky News said Levine was wounded on Friday near Ramallah and taken to hospital in Israel with severe injuries after being attacked by more than 50 masked people while reporting on settlers attacking Palestinians during the olive harvest. It said the Palestinian Red Crescent reported that medics treated 14 people, and that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Israel to crack down on the violence, saying the US was disturbed by the images and that the president did not want friction, a crisis or a new spark in the West Bank. BBC News also interviewed Stephen Zunes, who said settler violence had increased because Netanyahu and right-wing members of the Israeli government believed they could get away with it. He claimed more than 1,200 Palestinians had been killed in the past four years, that Trump had lifted sanctions imposed by Biden on settlers and their leaders, and that this had created a sense of a blank check. He also claimed Israeli troops had been nearby and supporting settlers in most incidents, called for sanctions to be reimposed and strategic relationships including arms to be reconsidered, and said Israeli elections might be a factor while some Israeli moderates were concerned about the country's image.

Key Claims by Channel

Monday 27 July 2026

Claim
Reported by all 2 channels
Two mosques were set on fire in the occupied West Bank, in the villages of Kour and Khusra/Kuzra, with vehicles and agricultural land also burned in attacks attributed to Israeli settlers or masked men.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by ITV
At least four Palestinians and two Israelis, including two soldiers, died in recent violence that preceded the mosque fires by two days.	Reported by BBC News
The Israeli military said it condemns nationalist violence and attacks, and is acting to maintain public order and prevent such incidents.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by ITV
International law considers all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank to be illegal.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by ITV
BBC News named the second village Khusra, while ITV1 named it Kuzra.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by ITV
Only on one channel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would speed up the establishment of new farm outposts in the occupied West Bank in response to the killings.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by ITV
Six houses were set alight in Sarah on Friday during a wave of arson attacks around Nablus.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by ITV
After an Israeli settler from Havat Gilad was killed on Friday, large crowds of settlers ran into Sarah, where a Palestinian visitor from Miami was injured and needed 12 stitches.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by ITV
Israeli soldiers separated settlers and Palestinians in Sarah and fired tear gas to push Palestinians back.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by ITV
Israeli forces raided a hospital in Nablus, detaining two people over the killing of two soldiers; MSF said medical staff were held at gunpoint and called it a violation of humanitarian law.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by ITV
The UN criticised Israeli settlers over fatal attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank in recent days and criticised the Israeli government for legitimising settler outposts in the occupied territory.	Not reported by BBC News
According to the UN, 77 Palestinians have been killed across the West Bank by Israeli soldiers or settlers since January, while three Israelis have been killed by Palestinians this year, including two soldiers on Friday.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by ITV
Demolitions in Jenin and checkpoint closures around Palestinian villages and towns took place, with reports of two women giving birth in cars and one woman losing her baby after being held at Awarta checkpoint for more than 30 minutes.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by ITV

Wednesday 12 August 2026

Claim
Reported by all 2 channels
Israeli security forces clashed with Jewish settlers at an outpost in the occupied West Bank.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
Tear gas was used by Israeli soldiers but failed to disperse the settlers.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
Settlers have been laying siege to four Palestinian homes near the village of Khusra since Sunday.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
Two Palestinian families are trapped inside their homes, with water, electricity, and food supplies cut off.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
The Israeli military leadership has criticised the latest settler violence.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
Palestinians accuse the army of allowing settlers to act with impunity with the backing of far-right government ministers.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
Many settlers have close ties to the army; the first troops sent to Khusra were seen praying alongside the settlers they were meant to be dispersing.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
The United Nations says there has been a surge in settler violence, with an average of six attacks on Palestinian communities every day this year.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
The mayor of Khusra says his brother and nephew were killed by settlers two years ago, and that things have never been as bad.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
The mayor also says settlers have torched mosques, stolen livestock, and chopped down trees since 2011.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
A family (Rokhaya Hassan and her two daughters) fled one of the besieged houses and are now homeless.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
The BBC team encountered an Israeli army checkpoint about a kilometer away and were turned back.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
The families say the soldiers arrived at the house but did nothing.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
Only on one channel
Around a dozen Jewish settlers are said to remain at the site south of Nablus.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
After the clashes, the settlers left, but later returned.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
Any settlements are illegal under international law.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One

Thursday 13 August 2026

Claim
Reported by all 3 channels
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned settler violence as terrorism.	Reported by BBC One	Reported by Channel 4
Reported by a few · 2 channels
Settlers laid siege to Palestinian homes in the village of Khusra for five days.	Reported by BBC One	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Within hours of the military operation, settlers returned and the siege resumed.	Reported by BBC One	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
One of the houses under attack is owned by a Palestinian American.	Reported by BBC One	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Broadcasters reported differing numbers of besieged homes or families.	Reported by BBC One	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Only on one channel
The siege included cutting off power and water to the homes.	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
An ambulance was prevented from taking a child to hospital.	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Israeli military used bulldozers to flatten illegal encampments (outposts) during the clearing operation.	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Israeli forces raided the main village of Khuzra and took over about a dozen Palestinian houses, putting residents out.	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
The current Israeli government has approved more than 100 new settlements in a few years, compared with six in the preceding decade.	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
The West Bank has an estimated 3.3 million Palestinians and over half a million Israeli settlers, and settlements are considered illegal under international law.	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Settlers believe the land was promised to them by God.	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
The violence is happening daily and neither the Israeli government, its military, nor the US have stopped it.	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
The incident drew criticism from the UK government.	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Settler violence is rising and enjoys support at the highest levels of Israeli power.	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Israeli soldiers were present during a settler attack on farmers but did not intervene.	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
The Israeli military moved in to clear Jewish settlers besieging Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank, amid international pressure on Israel to act.	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4

Friday 28 August 2026

Claim
Reported by all 2 channels
Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
A settler in Israel's governing coalition filmed himself destroying a village memorial, claiming it honored terrorists.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
Jewish settlers were filmed torturing a donkey by tying it to a vehicle and dragging it until it died.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
Only on one channel
Settler violence in the West Bank has increased to record levels, with over 60 incidents reported in one week.		Not reported by BBC One
Settler violence in the West Bank is set to reach record levels this year.		Not reported by BBC One
Very few settlers are ever prosecuted for attacks on Palestinians.		Not reported by BBC One
Human rights groups warn that settlers are expanding into new areas of the West Bank.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
Attacks on Palestinians have increased under Israel's current government alongside a rise in Israeli settlements.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
The incidents include daily incursions and intimidations that often go unreported.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
An amputee named Syed El Amor was beaten by a settler with an iron bar on Saturday; the attacker was arrested.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
Syed El Amor lost his leg last year after being shot near his house by a settler security guard.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
A 17-year-old named Karim Shalalde was killed on Friday while filming settlers; his father said two bullets were fired.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
Israel's army said it had received reports of Palestinians throwing stones in connection with the death of Karim Shalalde.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
Israel's Prime Minister described attackers as a small group of extremists.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
Illegal settler outposts receive state support.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One

Sunday 6 September 2026

Claim
Reported by all 3 channels
Huckabee said the problem is a tiny minority of settlers, not settlement policy.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One	Reported by Sky News
Reported by a few · 2 channels
Residents said settlers arrived during the ambassador's visit and were intimidating people.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
US ambassador Mike Huckabee visited the West Bank village of Turmus Ayya, where most residents are American citizens.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Sky News
Huckabee condemned settler violence as an act of terror.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Sky News
Only on one channel
Settler violence in the West Bank has increased to record levels, with over 60 incidents reported in one week.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Sky News
Palestinian officials reported two teenagers shot dead in a West Bank confrontation, while the Israeli army said its forces opened fire during a violent riot.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Sky News
At least 81 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank this year, compared with three Israelis killed by Palestinians.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Sky News
A 17-year-old Palestinian was killed while filming settlers.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Sky News
The village of al-Mughayyir has held six funerals this year for men and boys killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Sky News
Mike Huckabee used biblical terms instead of the term West Bank for the occupied territory.	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
Most residents of Tumras Aya are American citizens.	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
Residents said Huckabee's words empower violent settlers.	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Sky News
Huckabee filmed settlers entering the village.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Sky News
Israel said it arrested five people for West Bank violence, including settler attacks.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Sky News
All Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Sky News
Frank Lowenstein said the number of settlements and outposts grew from 300 in 2023 to over 640.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Sky News
Lowenstein said over 100 Palestinian communities have been displaced and thousands of Palestinians are homeless.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Sky News
Lowenstein said the Israeli government claims a moral, historical, and legal right to all the land.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Sky News
Lowenstein linked settlement expansion to Israel's upcoming elections and courting the extreme right.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Sky News
Residents fly American flags over their homes to deter settler attacks.	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Sky News
A resident said settlers would burn his house down without a fortified entrance.	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Sky News
Settlers placed a large rock in the road, blocking cars.	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Sky News
Huckabee left promising help, but residents were unconvinced.	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by Sky News

Friday 16 October 2026

Claim
Reported by all 2 channels
Around 80 masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers and set fire to olive trees near Abu Fala, north of Ramallah, injuring at least two people including a Washington Post photographer.
The UN reported nearly 200 settler attacks linked to this year's harvest, more than during the whole of last year's season.
Israeli forces fired tear gas into Palestinian fields to end the confrontation.		Reported by BBC One
Broadcasters reported a recurring pattern of settler violence, with settlers largely unconstrained by Israeli forces, emboldened by Israeli politicians, and illegal outposts increasing as harvest seasons become more violent.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
Only on one channel
Israel's prime minister said the facts around the journalist's assault remained unclear and were under investigation.	Not reported by BBC News
The Israeli government said it treats settler violence with severity, while questions were raised about how often the army intervened to protect Palestinians.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
Palestinian farmers said settlers attacked when people worked alone at the edge of the village, and a tactic of gathering together did not prevent the attack that day.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
Nearby settlement outposts were described as illegal under international law, including one of seven settlements nearby.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One
A Palestinian Farmers Union director said the olive harvest is the largest agricultural sector and a last source of income for hundreds of thousands of families, with around 140,000 families and up to 800,000 people economically dependent on olive oil production.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
A Palestinian Farmers Union director said 500,000 households had lost their source of income because of the Gaza war and West Bank conflict, making this olive season their last source of income.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
A Palestinian Farmers Union director said 178 villages had been identified by OCHA and a UN West Bank protection cluster as areas exposed to increased settler violence.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
Yesh Din found that 94% of police investigations into settler attacks were closed without indictment and only 4% ended in partial or full conviction.		Not reported by BBC One
An interviewee said settlements are against international law and the settlers' presence in the West Bank is a war crime under the Rome Statute.		Not reported by BBC One
A Palestinian rights official cited UN data reporting at least 1,600 settler attacks in the West Bank in the first eight months of 2026, with over 1,000 injuries and 18 Palestinians killed.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One
B'Tselem published a 2021 report describing settler violence as state violence.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One

Sunday 18 October 2026

Claim
Reported by all 2 channels
A group of European diplomats, including Belgian, French and Polish officials and Catholic Church representatives, was confronted by masked settlers while observing the olive harvest in the occupied West Bank; Belgium's foreign minister said its consul general was among them.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by Sky News
A day after the diplomats' incident, more than 50 masked settlers attacked another West Bank village, severely injuring Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine and hurting Palestinians; the Palestinian Red Crescent said medics treated 14 people.	Reported by BBC News	Reported by Sky News
Only on one channel
Israeli police were investigating the reported attack on European diplomats in Taiber, north of Jerusalem.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by Sky News
France demanded that Israel act against violence after European diplomats were targeted.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by Sky News
Poland's foreign ministry condemned the incident involving the European diplomats.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by Sky News
Israel's foreign minister described those involved as rioters and said the visit had not been coordinated with the military.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by Sky News
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Israel to act against the violence, saying the US was disturbed by the images and the president did not want a new crisis or spark in the West Bank.	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by Sky News
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned the attack on the American photojournalist as terrorism and urged prosecution.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by Sky News
Stephen Zunes said increased settler violence reflected Israeli government impunity.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by Sky News
Stephen Zunes said more than 1,200 Palestinians had been killed in four years and that Trump had lifted Biden-era sanctions on settlers and their leaders.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by Sky News
Stephen Zunes said Israeli troops had supported settlers in most incidents and called for sanctions to be reimposed and arms relationships to be reconsidered.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by Sky News
Stephen Zunes suggested Israeli elections could be a factor and that some Israeli moderates were concerned about Israel's international image.	Reported by BBC News	Not reported by Sky News

This is a cross-channel consensus summary, not an objective account. Consensus can be uniformly wrong, or omit what only one channel covered.