Israeli police have arrested 10 suspects in connection with violent incidents in the occupied West Bank, including attacks on a US photojournalist and European diplomats, authorities said on Monday.

The suspects were detained during a pre-dawn operation as police investigated the separate attacks that occurred over the weekend.

According to Israeli police, the suspects were arrested on suspicion of involvement in violent acts, violating an order declaring a closed military zone and illegal construction. They were taken into custody for questioning, but their identities and alleged individual roles were not immediately disclosed.

Israel’s Army Radio reported that the suspects were Israeli citizens.

Washington Post Journalist Injured in Settler Attack

The arrests followed an attack on Friday, October 16, involving Heidi Levine, a US photojournalist working for The Washington Post.

Levine was covering Palestinian farmers harvesting olives in the West Bank when masked men allegedly attacked her.

She sustained multiple injuries and was taken to hospital, where she underwent surgery on a finger.

The attack prompted calls from US officials for a thorough investigation and the prosecution of those responsible.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee welcomed the arrests, describing them as a positive development towards identifying and punishing those who attacked Levine.

The journalist’s assault has renewed concerns about the safety of media workers covering violence in the occupied territory.

European Diplomats Also Attacked

A separate incident occurred on Saturday, when masked settlers reportedly attacked European diplomats and a French mayor in another part of the West Bank.

The delegation included representatives from France, Belgium and Poland. A Belgian diplomatic vehicle was also damaged during the incident.

The attacks drew condemnation from the governments whose representatives were involved, with officials calling on Israel to take action against those responsible.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and the military blamed Israeli rioters for the attack on the diplomats.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, said the diplomats had entered a sensitive area with a history of confrontations without coordinating their visit with the military. He also said the circumstances surrounding Levine’s attack were unclear.

Israeli Officials Face Pressure to Act

The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has called for a crackdown on settler violence and demanded that those responsible for the attack on Levine be arrested.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also apologised to the journalist, condemning the violence and saying those responsible did not represent Israel’s values.

The arrests come amid renewed scrutiny of attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, journalists and foreign observers in the West Bank.

According to Israeli human rights group Yesh Din, at least 170 settler attacks against Palestinians had been reported since September 27.

Investigation Continues

Israeli police said the investigation was ongoing and reiterated their commitment to enforcing the law impartially.

The suspects remain under investigation, and authorities have not yet established their individual responsibility for either attack.

The case has intensified international calls for accountability over violence in the occupied West Bank, particularly during the Palestinian olive harvest season, when farmers and those accompanying them have faced reported attacks.