Israeli police arrest 10 following weekend attacks by settlers on journalist and diplomats

On October 17, 2026, masked Israeli settlers attacked a group of European diplomats, including Belgian, French, and Polish representatives, along with Catholic officials, in the West Bank village of Taybeh. The assault also targeted Bernard Baudoux, the mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, France, who was beaten severely by the assailants. In addition to physical violence, a Belgian diplomatic vehicle sustained damage during the incident.

These attacks occurred as settlers sought to prevent Palestinians from harvesting olives on their land, resulting in near-daily confrontations that have injured over 100 people and killed at least four since early October. The latest attack led Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot to call for Israel to bring those responsible to justice and push for further EU sanctions against illegal settlement policies.

In response to international criticism, Israeli police arrested ten suspects on October 19 after raiding several locations in the West Bank, seizing potential evidence related to the attacks. The arrests were made following calls from the United States, France, Belgium, and Poland to take action against settler violence.