Key facts
- An NBC News crew and a Palestinian family were attacked by masked Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
- The attackers used sticks and threw rocks, injuring three NBC News crew members and a Palestinian woman.
- The Palestinian woman, Aida Ahmed Abdullah, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, calling the perpetrators 'rioters'.
- The U.S. State Department condemned the violence and called for accountability.
Masked Israeli settlers attacked an NBC News crew and a Palestinian family in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, using sticks and throwing rocks. The incident occurred while the crew was interviewing Aida Ahmed Abdullah, a Palestinian woman who had reportedly been driven from her home by settlers. Abdullah was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, and three NBC News staffers also sustained injuries.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as the work of a "handful of rioters" that harms Israel's international standing. He condemned the "criminal acts of violence" and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice. A U.S. State Department spokesperson condemned the criminal violence, stating, “We call for investigations, arrests, and convictions, of those responsible.” The spokesperson added that the U.S. is in regular dialogue with partners about improving stability and security in the West Bank and is monitoring the situation.
Israeli security forces reported that dozens of rioters had barricaded themselves inside a Palestinian home and that they confiscated vehicles belonging to the settlers. Forces continue to operate in the areas to prevent further disturbances and restore order.