Masked Settlers Assault Palestinian Woman and NBC News Crew

NBC international correspondent Matt Bradley reported being struck twice on the arm during the assault. The attack occurred as Aida Ahmed Abdullah and her family were detailing their forced displacement from their home. Alongside Bradley, cameraman Khaldoon Eid, producer Lawahez Jabari, and their driver sustained injuries, requiring medical treatment. Abdullah remained hospitalized Saturday night.

Witnesses described a swift, coordinated strike. Jabari noted that while she spotted a firearm among the attackers, it remained holstered as the group used sticks and projectiles. This incident coincided with a broader surge in violence across the region; in the nearby town of Qusra, settlers continued a weeks-long siege against Palestinian residents, utilizing pepper spray and stone-throwing.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence as criminal acts that harm Israel’s international standing. However, critics suggest the government bears responsibility. Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute argued that such emboldened behavior stems from a perceived lack of repercussions from the Israeli leadership and its international allies. This latest aggression highlights a growing trend of hostility toward journalists operating in the West Bank, where human rights observers report that state-sanctioned settlement expansion continues despite international law prohibitions.