A 62-year-old Christian Palestinian woman sustained life-threatening injuries during a violent confrontation with Israeli settlers near Birzeit, north of Ramallah, on Saturday. Najat Jadallah Emeid was struck in the head with a large rock at close range, resulting in a fractured skull and requiring intensive care hospitalization.
The incident began when settlers brought livestock to graze near the Emeid family property on the outskirts of Birzeit, adjacent to the Atara military barrier. According to family members, the settlers deliberately damaged crops and olive trees before launching an unprovoked stone-throwing assault on the family home.
Najat’s daughter, Nariman Koura, described the harrowing sequence of events: ‘My mother shouted at the settlers to leave after they began breaking olive branches and feeding them to their animals. One settler hit my mother on the leg, causing her to fall, and another then picked up a large rock and struck her on the head while she was defenseless on the ground.’
Family members attempting to provide medical assistance and defend their property faced additional violence. Najat’s son, Eid Emeid, suffered a broken hand and finger while trying to protect his mother. The situation escalated further when Israeli forces arrived on the scene, arresting multiple family members despite their status as victims of the initial attack.
The incident reflects a broader pattern of escalating settler violence in the West Bank. According to documentation by the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, attacks against Christians have increased dramatically, with 69 documented incidents in the second quarter of 2025 alone, including holy site desecrations, vandalism, and physical assaults.
Wadie Abunassar, coordinator of the Holy Land Christian Forum, condemned the attack in a video statement: ‘I’m almost speechless about these repeated incidents. This terrorism has to stop.’ He noted that international observers feel ‘powerless in the face of ongoing settler violence, especially due to the lack of cooperation from Israeli authorities.’
Jamal Juma, coordinator of the Stop the Wall campaign, characterized the violence as part of ‘a systematic and well-planned strategy to force Palestinians out of their homes and lands.’ UN documentation indicates that between December 2025 and January 2026, settler attacks resulted in injuries to 33 Palestinians and displaced approximately 100 families through intimidation and threats.
Despite the trauma, the Emeid family remains resolute. ‘No matter what they do, we will not leave our land,’ Koura affirmed, capturing the determination of many Palestinian families facing similar pressures across the occupied territories.