Israeli settlers attacked AFP photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh, 58, and colleague John Wessels while they were covering ongoing violence against West Bank olive farmers. The incident occurred near the northern village of Aqraba, where the journalists noticed an Israeli soldier detaining a man as local Palestinians picked olives. A quad bike suddenly approached the AFP journalists, and a man on it opened live fire, hitting a Palestinian in the foot.
Ashtiyeh and Wessels were threatened at gunpoint, and Ashtiyeh was beaten repeatedly with guns by two men who jumped on him as he attempted to enter a car. The assailants took his camera equipment, Wessels said. Ashtiyeh suffered bruises to his head and torso and was taken to a hospital in Nablus, where he is under 24-hour supervision and will undergo X-rays.
The violence took place despite the presence of at least a dozen fully equipped Israeli soldiers around 500 meters away, according to Wessels. The man who initially fired the gun was wearing a long white shirt and military fatigue trousers and boots, similar to those worn by soldiers.
AFP has reached out to the Israeli military for comment on the incident. The attack on Ashtiyeh has been condemned by AFP's global news director, Phil Chetwynd, who demanded a full investigation. Chetwynd stated that it is unacceptable for journalists to be beaten and robbed by armed settlers in front of Israeli security forces who made no attempt to intervene.
This incident is part of a larger trend of Israeli settlers targeting journalists. Media rights groups say that Israeli settlers have increasingly targeted journalists, and authorities have imposed growing impediments to coverage.
In recent months, violence has flared in the West Bank with near-daily attacks, thefts, or vandalism by Israeli settlers against Palestinians. There have also been attacks against Israelis, with a Palestinian shooting dead a settler last month. Extremist Israeli settlers have been seizing olive groves owned by Palestinians, who see the trees as a cultural symbol.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by journalists covering the conflict in the West Bank. Israeli authorities have detained 19 journalists in the West Bank, including one AFP contributor, in the three years since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Gaza-based Hamas, according to Reporters Without Borders.
Key points
- Israeli settlers attacked and robbed AFP photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh while he was covering violence against West Bank olive farmers.
- The incident occurred despite the presence of Israeli security forces, who made no attempt to intervene.
- This attack is part of a larger trend of Israeli settlers targeting journalists in the West Bank.
