Left-wing Israeli NGO says ‘Jewish terrorists’ attacked its activists in West Bank

Activists with the left-wing Israeli group Rabbis for Human Rights were pepper-sprayed and assaulted by settlers in the southern West Bank today, the organization says.

The group adds that soldiers “stood by and watched” the attack. The IDF has not commented on the incident. Footage posted by Rabbis for Human Rights shows soldiers trying to pull away a couple of the attackers, with limited success.

According to Rabbis for Human Rights, the attack took place in the village of Jannatah, near Bethlehem, where AFP also said today that its journalists were attacked by settlers.

The Israeli group was in Jannatah to help build a fence around a Palestinian home on the outskirts of the village, the group’s director tells the Kan public broadcaster.

Footage released by Rabbis for Human Rights shows assailants clad in masks and hoodies spraying activists in the face. At least one attacker wields a club, and some have Jewish ritual fringes, known as tzitzit, peeking out from underneath their shirts.

Jannata: Jewish terrorists are attacking our activists. Terrorists sprayed them with pepper spray, beat a 70-year-old activist, smashed the windows of four vehicles, and slashed their tires. Soldiers stood by and watched. The police arrived only hours after the attack had ended. pic.twitter.com/zeQjjpEiWL

— Rabbis for Human Rights (@rabbis4HR) August 25, 2026

According to Rabbis for Human Rights, the “Jewish terrorists” pepper-sprayed the activists, beat a 70-year-old activist, and smashed the windows and slashed the tires of four cars.

“The police arrived only hours after the attack had ended,” the group says.

Police do not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegation.

Kan reports that officers from West Bank police who arrived on the scene launched an investigation and took testimony from people involved. It says the attack took place in the area of Kochav Yehuda, an illegal outpost that has been repeatedly dismantled — including as recently as yesterday, according to the outlet.

Settler violence has surged in recent months, with near-daily attacks and harassment. Prosecutions are rare, and critics accuse the IDF of condoning or even encouraging the violence.