On October 17, 2026, in Taybeh, a Christian Palestinian village near Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, sven masked Israeli settlers armed with clubs attacked on European diplomats, activists, public figures and Palestinian harvesters.

The settlers surrounded vehicles, struck them with clubs, threatened to kill those present and demanded their identity documents.

The diplomats and public figures attacked:

• Anick Van Calster, Belgium’s consul general in Jerusalem.
• French and Polish diplomatic representatives.
• Bernard Baudoux, mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, France, who was wounded.
• Catholic representatives were also reportedly present.

A window of a Belgian consular vehicle was smashed; activists reported damage to their vehicle, including a broken rear light.

Activists Amit Orfali and another activist arrived after Palestinians reported that settlers were stealing sacks of olives. Orfali said the diplomats helped protect them.

Israeli official responses

The Israeli Police stated that they opened an investigation: forensic investigators were sent to collect evidence and witness statements.

The IDF Condemned the attacks but said the diplomatic visit had not been coordinated with the military. It stated that, according to its preliminary inquiry, no soldiers were present at the scene during the attack.

The foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, condemned the violence on X but also expressed regret that the visit had not been coordinated with the IDF.

International reactions

The Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot condemned the attack and demanded protection for Palestinians, diplomats and journalists, accountability for those responsible, and an end to impunity for violent settlers. He connected the violence to Israel’s settlement policy and reiterated Belgium’s support for EU sanctions against perpetrators and those supporting them.