Women Photograph condemns the October 16, 2026 assault on photojournalist and Women Photograph member Heidi Levine. She was reporting on violence against Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest in the occupied West Bank while on assignment for The Washington Post. Despite wearing a clearly marked PRESS vest, Levine was surrounded by multiple Israeli attackers, knocked to the ground, physically assaulted, and robbed of her belongings—including her professional equipment. She required medical attention and was brought to the hospital.

Heidi is a dedicated photojournalist and valued member of our community. We are sending support to her and her loved ones during her recovery and to the larger journalistic community as we grapple with this attack on one of our own.

Women Photograph advocates for equitable hiring in the visual journalism industry and provides funding, resources, and opportunities to support women and all gender-marginalized photographers. We are deeply concerned by the sustained violence against journalists in the field, which threatens their safety and their ability to document and inform.

We add our voices to those who call on Israeli authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into this attack and hold those responsible accountable. As we witness the increased targeting of the press, we reaffirm the importance of protecting journalists and the role of independent reporting in bringing vital stories to the public.