Israeli settlers attack journalist and expand road access in West Bank

In the West Bank, masked Israeli settlers reportedly attacked American photojournalist Heidi Levine during an olive harvest near Abu Falah. According to reports, approximately 80 settlers descended from a hilltop outpost, causing a melee where gunfire was heard and at least two Palestinian men were wounded. Levine, wearing press identification, was reportedly knocked to the ground, kicked approximately 50 times, and stripped of her electronic equipment before being rescued and taken to a hospital in Ramallah.

Separately, the Israeli military is preparing to open a section of Route 463, also known as the Wallerstein Road, to settler traffic. The 10-kilometre stretch of road connects al-Bireh and Jalazone to Ein Qiniya. While the road has been used by Palestinians to connect Ramallah to several towns and essential services, the decision to allow settler travel is expected to isolate several Palestinian villages and residential neighborhoods from the rest of the Ramallah-Al-Bireh area.