Masked Israeli Settlers Attack European Diplomatic Delegation in West Bank

RAMALLAH (Terror Monitor) — A European diplomatic delegation, including Belgium’s consul general and diplomats from France, Poland and the Catholic Church, was attacked by masked Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, prompting condemnation from European officials and the Israeli military.

The incident occurred in the predominantly Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh, near Ramallah, where the delegation had travelled to assess conditions on the ground amid growing concerns over attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, particularly during the annual olive harvest.

According to Belgian officials, a vehicle belonging to the Belgian consulate was damaged during the incident, with one of its windows smashed. A French mayor accompanying the delegation was also reportedly assaulted.

Footage circulating from the scene showed masked individuals stopping the diplomatic convoy. Reports indicated that the attackers also threw stones at the vehicles. Video footage showed a man wearing a French tricolour sash leaning against a vehicle during the confrontation.

The attack drew condemnation from Belgium, the Israeli military and other officials, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office urged caution over reports of the incident and suggested that some coverage could be part of a campaign to discredit Israel.

Belgium Demands Accountability

Belgium strongly condemned the attack on its consul general and other diplomatic representatives, calling on Israel to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

Belgium’s foreign minister said Israeli authorities had a responsibility to ensure accountability and protect diplomats, journalists and Palestinian civilians from violence.

The minister said Palestinians faced such violence on a daily basis and that settlers had also targeted journalists reporting on the situation.

“Neither harvesting olives, reporting the news nor carrying out diplomatic duties should expose anyone to the risk of attack,” the minister said.

The minister further stressed that, as the occupying power, Israel was responsible for protecting Palestinians and ensuring the safety of diplomats and journalists operating in the occupied territory.

Belgium also called for an end to what it described as impunity for violent settlers, saying it would continue pressing the European Union to impose sanctions on individuals responsible for the violence and those supporting them.

Israeli Military Condemns Attack, Investigation Launched

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) condemned the incident, describing it as serious violence in which diplomatic representatives had been attacked.

In a statement, the military said an initial assessment indicated that no IDF personnel were present at the scene when the attack occurred.

The Israeli foreign minister also condemned violence committed by what he described as Israelis seeking to provoke unrest. He said the Foreign Ministry was in contact with diplomats from the countries involved.

However, the minister expressed regret that the delegation’s visit had not been coordinated with the IDF in advance, arguing that prior coordination could have helped ensure the visitors’ safety.

The remarks came as Israeli authorities faced calls to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable.

Netanyahu’s Office Questions Reports

Netanyahu’s office urged caution in drawing conclusions from reports of the attack, arguing that images circulating on social media did not establish the full sequence of events or determine individual responsibility.

The office said Israeli police and forensic investigators had begun examining the incident to establish the facts and identify those involved.

It also raised concerns that reports of the confrontation were emerging amid what it described as a coordinated campaign to discredit Jewish residents of Israel and the West Bank during the annual olive harvest.

The statement suggested that sensational headlines were being published before all the facts had been established.

The remarks contrasted with the IDF’s condemnation of the violence and the accounts provided by members of the diplomatic delegation.

French Mayor Says He Was Beaten With Metal Bars

The French official reportedly assaulted during the incident was identified as Bruno Baudot, mayor of the northern French town of Aulnoye-Aymeries.

Speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Baudot said settlers had kicked him, struck him with metal bars and knocked him to the ground.

He criticised what he described as the Israeli right-wing government’s tolerance of settler violence and said the brutality of the attack had shocked him.

Baudot said the attackers appeared to be acting in a state of extreme anger and stressed the importance of bringing international attention to conditions in the occupied West Bank.

He added that he would be able to return to France after the visit, while Palestinians living in the territory would continue to face the consequences of the violence.

Attack Follows Assault on Palestinians and Photographer

The incident in Taybeh occurred a day after another reported settler attack in a separate West Bank village left several Palestinians and Heidi Levine, a photographer for The Washington Post, injured.

The assault prompted condemnation from senior US officials.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the attack on Levine as concerning, saying it was “not a good thing.”

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also condemned the incident, describing it as a “despicable act of terrorism” carried out by masked individuals he called cowards.

Huckabee said those responsible should face the full force of the law.

The two incidents have renewed concerns over settler violence in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians have reported repeated attacks during the olive harvest, including assaults on farmers attempting to collect their crops.

The attack on the European delegation has also raised questions about the safety of foreign diplomats and journalists seeking to document conditions in Palestinian communities.

The investigation into the Taybeh incident is ongoing, and Israeli authorities have yet to publicly identify those responsible.