Masked Israeli settlers attacked a group of European diplomats on Saturday during a visit to the occupied West Bank, prompting Belgium's foreign minister to condemn what he called Israel's “illegal settlement policy” and to pledge further European Union sanctions.
The delegation, which included Belgium's consul general, French and Polish diplomats, and Catholic representatives, was targeted in the village of Taybeh, about five kilometres northeast of Jerusalem, according to Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot. A French mayor was assaulted and a Belgian vehicle was damaged, though Prévot confirmed that “our team is safe.”
Prévot said the attack underscored the consequences of Israel's settlement expansion, which the EU considers illegal under international law. He called on Israeli authorities, as the occupying power, to protect Palestinians and end what he described as “impunity for violent settlers.”
Israel's military described the assault as a “severe act of violence” but noted that the diplomats' visit had not been coordinated with the army and that no soldiers were present at the scene. Israeli police said they had opened an investigation and condemned “violence of any kind,” vowing to bring those responsible to justice.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the “severe acts of violence by Israeli rioters” on social media, adding that his ministry was in contact with the ambassadors of the countries involved.
Violence spikes during olive harvest
The attack came a day after settlers assaulted Palestinian farmers in at least eight villages across the northern West Bank. The incidents occur during the annual olive harvest, a period when Palestinian access to their land is frequently disrupted by settler violence.
According to the United Nations, 178 settler attacks linked to the olive harvest were recorded in 2025. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that at least four Palestinians have been killed and more than 100 injured since this year's harvest began.
The diplomatic incident adds to growing European frustration over the lack of accountability for settler violence. Belgium has been among the most vocal EU member states pushing for sanctions against individuals and entities involved in settlement activity. The EU has repeatedly called on Israel to halt settlement expansion, which it views as a major obstacle to a two-state solution.
The attack also highlights the risks faced by European diplomats and aid workers operating in the occupied territories. In recent years, several EU-funded projects have been damaged or disrupted by settler actions, and European officials have increasingly become targets of harassment.
While the EU has imposed sanctions on some extremist settlers, member states remain divided over how far to go. Belgium's call for further measures is likely to reignite debate in Brussels, particularly as Belgium's own fiscal troubles complicate its diplomatic leverage. Still, Prévot's statement signals that the bloc may be willing to take a harder line.
The incident also comes amid heightened tensions across the region, with Israelis marking three years since the October 7 attack and European governments grappling with how to balance security concerns with human rights obligations.
For now, the immediate focus is on ensuring the safety of diplomatic personnel and holding the perpetrators accountable. But the broader question of how to address the systemic issue of settler violence remains unresolved, and European diplomats are increasingly finding themselves on the front line of that conflict.
