Meead Abu al-Rub is watching the widely circulated video footage of her being harassed and abused by Israeli settlers last October during the olive harvest season.
The 35-year-old Palestinian, who is now known around the world after a picture of her being taunted by one of the settlers appeared on the cover of Italian magazine L’Espresso, recalls what happened that day.
“Some of the settlers were wearing military uniforms and carrying weapons,” Meead tells Middle East Eye. “They threatened us, insulted us, and filmed us. The settler who was filming me with his phone was threatening to arrest us all, even though we had not done anything wrong and they were the ones who attacked us.”
The video and photos were taken on 12 October 2025, when Meead, a lawyer with the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, and several other activists were peacefully demonstrating against the possible confiscation of Palestinian land in the Suba area of Idhna, southwest of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.
On the L’Espresso cover photo, the settler, armed and wearing military uniform, is seen laughing at Meead as he films her with his phone.