GB News, on West Bank, 18 October 2026

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Marco Rubio issues demand to Israel over settler violence in West Bank

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Marco Rubio issues demand to Israel over 'disturbing' settler violence in West Bank Israeli settlers in the West Bank have been involved in at least 170 attacks on Palestinians since September 27 Sign up to the World News Newsletter Email address Sign up I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules.

Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Marco Rubio has called on the Israeli government to "crack down" on settler violence in the occupied West Bank. The Secretary of State has issued a demand to Jerusalem after American journalists and European diplomats were targeted by violent Israeli settlers.

His comments to reporters came after the widespread dissemination of a video showing multiple individuals attacking Heidi Levine, an American photojournalist with the Washington Post. Settlers in the West Bank have been involved in at least 170 attacks on Palestinians since September 27, around the start of the annual olive harvest, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli settlements monitoring group. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Ms Levine was one of at least two people injured in the Friday incident, which took place as Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians.

Speaking to reporters before boarding a flight to Uzbekistan, Mr Rubio said: "We're very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing. "We've asked the Israelis and continue to ask them to crack down on that stuff." The Secretary of State said he expects to hear back from the US Embassy in Jerusalem by the end of the week. Mr Rubio has issued a demand to the Israeli government | REUTERS Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said Brussels' consul general to the Palestinians, French and Polish diplomats, and Catholic representatives were among those attacked in yesterday's incident.

He said: "As the occupying power, Israeli authorities must protect Palestinians, ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists, and bring those responsible to justice. Impunity for violent settlers must end." Mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in northern France, Bernard Baudoux, said he had been harvesting olives near the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh in solidarity with the local community when he was "violently attacked" by masked settlers.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the attack, describing the perpetrators as Israeli rioters, but suggested the diplomats should have coordinated their visit with the Israeli military. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE WEST BANK IDF surrounds last Christian town in West Bank as Settler attacks continue on last Christian village in West Bank despite IDF declaring 'closed military zone' British soldiers tracking Israeli settler 'terrorism' expelled from West Bank after Ed Miliband sanctions Masked Israeli settlers targeted diplomats | REUTEES Heidi Levine, a photojournalist with the Washington Post, was attacked by settlers | REUTERS Settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have surged over the past three years, with journalists, activists and foreign observers targeted by violent Israeli attackers.

On Friday, dozens of masked settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in the West Bank as well as Ms Levine. Mr Prevot said: "Palestinians face this violence every day. Settlers also target journalists reporting on it and diplomats. "Harvesting olives, reporting the news or carrying out diplomatic duties should never put anyone at risk of attack." Israeli militant settlers attacked a group of Palestinians harvesting olives near Turmus Ayya | REUTERS | REUTERS Israeli police said they opened an investigation into the incident, but made no immediate announcement of any arrests.

Prosecutions of settlers accused of violent crimes by Israelis against Palestinians in the West Bank are rare. The settlers have been emboldened by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has overseen a rapid expansion of settlements and smaller outposts across the West Bank. Prime Minister Netanyahu has spoken out against the violence but has taken few steps to crack down on incidents that have drawn international condemnation and sanction plans by longtime Israeli allies, including Britain.

Israeli settlers threw projectiles during the olive harvest in the occupied West Bank | REUTERS Benjamin Netanyahu has come under fire from the international community for failing to deal with West Bank settler violence | REUTERS The West Bank is home to around 500,000 settlers and at least three million Palestinians. Israel rejects this, viewing the territory as disputed rather than occupied.

The Abu Falah attack followed a similar attack on Friday morning in the area of Turmus Ayya village, where settlers burned three cars after attacking a group of Palestinian farmers harvesting olives. Salah Abu Niswa, who witnessed the attack in Turmus Ayya, said the settlers "snuck up like thieves, they caught someone by himself and began to beat him." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Breaking news World News At least one dead after 'serious incident' declared at major Canadian military base World News France on fire as 143-year-old town hall DESTROYED during 'ultra-left' nationwide riots World News Italy's Muslim-friendly schools swapping prosciutto with curry for children’s meals World News Man and woman charged over 'arson attack' in Ireland that killed family World News Pope Leo discharged from hospital days after shock lung cancer diagnosis World News Over 400 protesters arrested as chaos erupts across France again World News Huge pro-Palestine mob target Israeli dance show... only for performers to win a standing ovation World News Iranian fishermen swarm Strait of Hormuz in scramble for iPhones and luxury perfume after cargo ship sinks World News Nato fighter jets scrambled as mystery 'aerial target' spotted near European border World News Japan's Prime Minister claims she works more hours than men due to housework and applying make-up World News Donald Trump blasts Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries 'a disgrace' in fresh dig at Volodymyr Zelensky World News Anti-Trump protesters torch Albanian government buildings over luxury marina plans World News Investigation launched into Channel Tunnel crash as bus and train collision leaves 19 injured World News Ryanair flight descends into chaos as police called after fight kicks off between passengers World News Man dies as flash floods batter popular tourist island and force state of emergency World News Pope Leo issues first statement after cancer operation as he thanks families World News France doubles riot police presence on northern beaches in latest bid to stop small boat crossings World News Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer, Vatican confirms World News Nuremberg Airport suspends all flights as fighter jets escort passenger plane amid 'in-flight emergency' World News Roman Catholic Church blesses AI-generated icon of 'millennial saint' in historic first World News Israel flight receives 'bomb threat' just weeks after 'jihadist' hijack attempt Exclusive World News Britain capable of defending Falkland Islands 'against any Argentinian military action', say defence sources World News Hundreds of French fridges hacked in nationwide cyber attack sparking fires and spoiling food World News North Korea fires deadly ballistic missiles towards Japan sparking 'strong condemnation' World News Travel warning issued to Britons visiting Saudi Arabia amid 'deadliest terror attack in a decade' Exclusive World News Falkland Islands residents subjected to 'cyber attacks and abusive phone calls' by Argentinians World News Horror France school shooting leaves headmistress and teacher wounded as student, 14, arrested World News Russia blitzes Ukrainian power plant in bombing raid just hours after Donald Trump declared ceasefire World News Hundreds of migrants dead after boat collapses in 'devastating loss of life' World News Donald Trump announces 'immediate' ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine but Volodymyr Zelensky responds: 'That's news to me!'

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What we found (3)

GB News reports Marco Rubio's call for Israel to stop settler violence and names the settlers as the attackers in its main text. Its captions and a linked headline then call the same one-sided assaults "clashes". On the settlements, it writes their illegality as the opinion of "UN bodies and most countries", never mentions the ICJ ruling, and ends that passage on Israel's claim that the territory is "disputed".

  1. Hedges the documented record

    Severe

    “UN bodies and most countries deem the settlements illegal under international law regarding military occupations.”

    Why this matters
    GB News writes the illegality of the settlements as something "UN bodies and most countries deem", a matter of opinion held by some parties.
    The impression it gives
    A reader comes away thinking the settlements' legal status is a view held by many governments but not a settled legal finding.
    The context
    The International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found the settlements illegal and the occupation unlawful. The article never mentions the court or its ruling.

    How we know

    • On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
    • On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem unlawful.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
    • Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “court” and “unlawful”.

    Show it in the article

    Written straight

    The International Court of Justice ruled in July 2024 that Israel's occupation of the West Bank is unlawful and its settlements illegal under international law. Israel rejects the ruling.

  2. Softens settler violence

    Serious

    “Palestinians look towards Israeli settlers casting projectiles amid clashes during olive harvest”

    Why this matters
    The GB News caption calls the settler assault on olive harvesters "clashes", as if two sides were fighting.
    The impression it gives
    A reader looking at the picture thinks Palestinians and settlers were trading blows.
    The context
    The article's own text says dozens of masked settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives, and that settlers burned three cars after attacking farmers. The New York Times reports settlers beat Palestinians and a photographer with bats and sticks.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

    “Israeli settlers clash with local population”

    Why this matters
    In a linked headline inside the article, GB News describes settler attacks on a Palestinian Christian town as settlers who "clash with local population".
    The impression it gives
    A reader takes the violence around Taybeh as a mutual fight between settlers and residents.
    The context
    The same article and other reports describe masked settlers attacking residents, diplomats and a French mayor who were harvesting olives near Taybeh. Nothing in the article shows residents attacking settlers.

    How we know

    Show it in the article

  3. Headline goes beyond the article

    Minor

    “'disturbing'”

    Why this matters
    The headline puts the word 'disturbing' in quotation marks as if Rubio said it.
    The impression it gives
    A reader thinks Rubio called the settler violence "disturbing".
    The context
    Rubio's quoted words were "We're very disturbed by those images". The headline's quoted word is a paraphrase presented as his.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“We're very disturbed by those images”

    Show it in the article

How other outlets reported it

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