The United States State Department condemned violence in the West Bank after an American journalist was attacked while reporting on the ground. A State Department spokesperson stated on Tuesday that the agency was aware of the reports and ready to provide consular assistance.
"The Department of State is aware of these reports. We are greatly concerned when any American is harmed overseas and stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Officials confirmed they had reached out to the Washington Post to offer support.
The journalist, identified as Levine, was badly beaten while covering the Palestinian olive harvest in the village of Abu Falah, near Ramallah. The Foreign Press Association reported that she was taken to Ramallah Government Hospital, where she remained in stable condition following the assault.
The Washington Post noted that Levine was wearing visible markings clearly identifying her as a journalist at the time of the incident. The media organisation called for a thorough investigation and follow-through from the authorities.
Israeli police stated they had opened an investigation into the matter, while the Israeli army indicated it would examine all circumstances surrounding the event. The State Department added that it supports appropriate investigations and legal accountability for those responsible.
"We condemn criminal violence by any party in the West Bank and support appropriate investigations as well as legal accountability for those responsible," the State Department spokesperson said. The administration maintained that the safety of Americans is a high priority.
The Foreign Press Association described the incident as the latest in a long line of violent attacks by Israeli settlers against journalists and civilians in the occupied territory. Levine was one of two foreign journalists injured during attacks across the Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorate.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Civil Defense, and Al-Baydar reported that the widespread violence also left at least twelve Palestinians wounded, many of them farmers tending to their crops. The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission stated it documented at least 136 attacks linked to the harvest season since the beginning of October.
The olive harvest serves as a vital source of income for thousands of Palestinian families across the West Bank. Farmers continue to face growing attacks and severe restrictions on access to their land during the seasonal work.
Attacks by Israeli forces and occupiers against Palestinians and their property throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have intensified since the start of the genocide in Gaza in October 2023.
