Afaf Abu Alia, Resilient Grandmother from Turmus Ayya, Injured in Attack by Settlers While Harvesting Olives
Afaf Abu Alia, a 55-year-old grandmother from the West Bank village of al-Mughayyir, was severely injured on October 19th, 2025, while harvesting olives in the nearby village of Turmus Ayya. During the incident, Afaf was attacked by Israeli settlers, who approached her with a club and proceeded to beat her, causing significant head injuries. She was immediately hospitalized, where she received 20 stitches and required four days of medical care.
The attack, witnessed by Yasser Alkam, a Palestinian-American lawyer and farmer, has drawn widespread condemnation. Afaf had been working in an olive grove loaned to her after Israeli forces bulldozed her own trees earlier that year. Despite the traumatic experience, Afaf expressed her determination to continue her work, stating, "I’ll be back next year."
The violence that Afaf and many other Palestinians face has become a common occurrence, particularly in regions like Turmus Ayya, where settler violence continues to escalate. The attack on Afaf is part of a broader pattern of escalating tensions in the West Bank, particularly after the establishment of illegal settler outposts.
Her courage in the face of such adversity has earned her the respect of her community, and many continue to rally around her in solidarity.
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