Masked settlers assault European diplomatic convoy in West Bank village

Incident overview On Saturday, a group of masked Israeli settlers confronted a convoy that included representatives from Belgium, France, Poland, the Catholic Church and a French mayor aged 78. The delegation was travelling through the largely Christian village of Taybeh, close to Ramallah, to observe the Palestinian olive harvest. Video from the scene shows the settlers approaching the vehicles, throwing stones and physically assaulting members of the convoy.

Victims and injuries According to reports, the French mayor was kicked and struck with metal bars after he joined local olive farmers. He also suffered verbal abuse directed at France. Belgian officials said a consular car had its window shattered, and the Belgian consul general was among those assaulted. The attack also targeted Palestinian farmers accompanying the delegation. The incident follows a separate assault the previous day in which Israeli settlers injured an American photographer working for The Washington Post, leaving her with a broken vertebra.

Reactions from authorities The Israel Defence Forces described the episode as a "severe act of violence" and announced an investigation. The Israeli military publicly condemned the assault. In contrast, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested the event was part of a coordinated campaign intended to tarnish Israel's image. International reactions were uniformly critical. Belgium called for accountability and urged Israel to bring the perpetrators to justice. The United States, represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ambassador Mike Huckabee, labelled the attack as disturbing and condemned it as a despicable act, urging full legal prosecution.

Context of settler violence The assault occurred amid heightened tensions surrounding the annual olive harvest, a period that has seen frequent clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinian farmers. Settlers have been accused of repeatedly targeting Palestinians attempting to bring in their harvest, prompting diplomatic missions to assess the security situation on the ground. The Taybeh incident adds to a series of recent confrontations that have drawn international scrutiny.

Outlook Israeli authorities have pledged to investigate, while foreign ministries await the results before deciding on further diplomatic steps. The incident underscores the fragile security environment in the occupied West Bank and the challenges faced by diplomatic personnel operating in the area.