US lawmakers and officials condemn settler attack on Washington Post journalist in West Bank

While the Israeli condemnations largely called for further investigation to determine the facts, US and Palestinian condemnations accused Israeli settlers of having attacked Levine.

US lawmakers demand action after attack on Washington Post journalist US lawmakers have called on the Trump administration to hold Israeli settlers accountable after an attack on Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine and Palestinian villagers in the occupied West Bank. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro said the assault raised questions about the violence Palestinians face when there are no witnesses. “If the settlers will do this to an American journalist on camera, in broad daylight, imagine what Palestinian families face when no one is watching,” DeLauro wrote on X. “Those responsible for this attack must be held accountable.” If the settlers will do this to an American journalist on camera, in broad daylight, imagine what Palestinian families face when no one is watching. Those responsible for this attack must be held accountable. — Rosa DeLauro (@rosadelauro) October 16, 2026 Senator Chris Van Hollen  described the “repeated violence and brazen impunity for attacks” against Americans and Palestinians as “unacceptable”. “When will Trump and Rubio DO SOMETHING?” he asked in a post on X, urging the administration to take action against those responsible. Congressman Ro Khanna said Israeli settlers operate with impunity and called for an end to US assistance. “We need to cut off aid to Israel that is used to fund settler activity, and stop the sales of these weapons,” he wrote on X. He recalled his own experience from July, when he and a New York Times photographer were detained by settlers in Khirbet Zanuta, saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him a liar at the time. “Netanyahu, you are the liar with the blood of Palestinian children on your hands,” Khanna said. Israeli settlers beat Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine. She said attackers picked her up, then threw her down again and kept kicking. They operate with impunity. We need to cut off aid to Israel that is used to fund settler activity, and stop the sales of these weapons. — Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) October 16, 2026

'My son has always feared settlers would kill me': Photojournalist recounts attack Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine, who was brutally attacked by a group of Israeli settlers on Thursday, says her son, Michael, has always told tell her that his biggest fear is that his mother "would be killed by settlers". "We even had this conversation yesterday," Levine said from her hospital bed as she recounted how she was attacked by a group of young settlers while reporting on settler attacks against Palestinians harvesting olives in the village of Abu Falah in the occupied West Bank. “I was attacked, pushed to the ground. Luckily I had my flak jacket and helmet, otherwise I probably wouldn’t even be here, because they just kept kicking me and kicking me.” The US Embassy condemned the violence, saying “the Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans". It called for “investigations, arrests and convictions of those responsible". Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine recounts being brutally attacked by a group of at least 50 Israeli settlers while reporting on settler attacks against Palestinians harvesting olives in the village of Abu Falah in the occupied West Bank. Levine stated that the settlers also destroyed and looted her cameras and personal phone before she was rescued by Palestinian journalists. — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 16, 2026

US condemns ‘criminal violence’ in West Bank after settler attack on Washington Post journalist The United States on Friday condemned “criminal violence by any party” in the occupied West Bank, after Israeli settlers attacked American photojournalist Heidi Levine while she was covering violence against Palestinian olive farmers for The Washington Post. “We condemn criminal violence by any party in the West Bank and support appropriate investigations as well as legal accountability for those responsible,” a State Department official said on condition of anonymity, according to AFP. “The Department has reached out to the Washington Post to offer consular assistance,” the official added.