Settlers attack European diplomatic delegation in the occupied West Bank - Sarmad

Israeli settlers attacked a convoy of European diplomats as they toured the occupied West Bank on Saturday, beating up a French mayor who was visiting the area.

Witnesses told Agence France-Presse that vehicles from the French, Belgian, and Polish missions were carrying diplomats to visit the town of Taibeh, which has a Christian majority in the occupied West Bank, when settlers arrived to prevent Palestinians from harvesting olives.

Masked settlers made hostile remarks toward the diplomats before kicking left-wing Bernard Boudou, mayor of Oignies-Emmerin in northern France (78), according to diplomats and witnesses.

Footage shared by one diplomat showed Boudou lying on the ground, leaning against a car. Two diplomats and a local resident confirmed his identity to AFP, while one diplomat stated that he was injured but did not require hospitalization.

The Israeli occupation police said it had opened an investigation into the assault on the diplomats. Its statement referred to video clips circulating online that appear to show several diplomats being attacked in the village of Taibeh.

Violence committed by Jewish settlers against Palestinians has escalated during the annual olive-picking season. Activists say the occupation authorities are not doing enough to stop these attacks. A separate attack on Friday left several people seriously injured, including a photojournalist working for The Washington Post.