Missy Ryan says the attack on Levine is a sign of how bad things are
Missy RyanThe Atlantic journalist and former colleague of Levine
Missy Ryan says few photojournalists are more experienced or dedicated than Levine and that the attack on her is a sign of how bad things are and of the stakes of not getting the story out.
“There are few photo journalists who are more experienced and more dedicated than Heidi. And just to see what happened to her is I would think really a sign of how bad things are and what the what the stakes are for not getting that story out to the world.”
Original video
Where this statement fits
Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine is beaten near Abu Falah; Netanyahu's office says the facts are unclear
Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was beaten near the West Bank village of Abu Falah on October 16, 2026, while covering the olive harvest. She and other journalists at the scene said masked Israeli settlers attacked harvesters and reporters. The Israeli military condemned the incident and police opened an investigation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the facts remain unclear, and the Post's executive editor replied that Levine was clearly marked as press and clearly beaten.
Source and context
Original video
About this source
Ryan discussed eyewitness accounts of the attack during a CNN panel.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
On a CNN panel, after playing an eyewitness account of the attack, the host asked Ryan whether there is a limit to what President Trump will tolerate of Israeli actions in the West Bank. Ryan said the administration has signaled displeasure over some incidents involving U.S. citizens but that the tripwire is a lot farther away than under the Biden administration, despite an unprecedented surge in settler violence. She noted that an NBC crew was attacked a few months earlier and said she had worked with Levine in Ukraine and Israel.
After the quotation
The host agrees and notes that Palestinians were taking part in the annual olive harvest, then asks David Sanger about Netanyahu's statement on the attack.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is the October 16, 2026 beating of Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine near Abu Falah, which she and other witnesses attributed to masked Israeli settlers. Ryan calls the attack a sign of how bad things are, after describing an unprecedented surge in settler violence, which condemns it.
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More from this case
Read the full caseGitzin calls for more protective activity against settler violence
“NIF's answer to the escalating violence is to double down: get more people on the ground, more legal aid, more voices speaking out against the brutality.”Read statement
Heidi Levine blames "Jewish terrorists" for the attack on her
“Jewish terrorists I've been covering this region for over 40 years, and I have never seen this country in such a state as it is today.”Read statement
Huckabee calls the attack on Levine a despicable act of terror
“Attacking a female photographer is despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards. Dishonorable act of senseless violence.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Missy Ryan says the attack on Levine is a sign of how bad things are". First published: 2026-10-20. Last updated: 2026-10-20. https://disputeindex.com/events/6224-missy-ryan-says-few-photojournalists-are-more-experienced