Israeli settlers beat press photographer as soldiers watch in West Bank
Summary
A Palestinian photographer was beaten and injured by Israeli settlers while covering violence in the West Bank, with Israeli soldiers nearby who did not intervene. This attack is part of a rising trend of settler violence against Palestinian farmers in the region, especially during the olive harvest season.Key Facts
- Jaafar Ashtiyeh, a 58-year-old Palestinian photographer for Agence France-Presse, was attacked by Israeli settlers using rifle butts.
- The attack happened near the West Bank village of Aqraba while Ashtiyeh was clearly marked as press.
- Israeli soldiers were present about 500 meters away but did not stop the attackers.
- Other violence included gunfire from settlers that wounded a Palestinian man in the foot.
- The settlers’ violence disrupts the olive harvest, which is very important to the Palestinian economy.
- Such attacks tend to increase during Israeli election seasons.
- The Foreign Press Association and AFP condemned the violence and demanded investigations.
- Israel leads the world in journalist deaths, with over 225 killed in Lebanon and Gaza since 2025, according to the UN Human Rights Office.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
