Armed Israeli settlers assaulted Jaafar Ashtiyeh, a 58-year-old photographer for Agence France-Presse, while he was covering violence against olive farmers in the occupied West Bank. The incident occurred in the presence of Israeli soldiers, who did not intervene, leading to Ashtiyeh being hospitalized with injuries.
Incident Overview
Ashtiyeh was attacked by a group of settlers who beat him with the butts of their rifles, despite being clearly marked as press. Witnesses, family, and fellow journalists reported that he suffered bruises to his head and torso and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
This assault is part of a broader trend of escalating violence against Palestinian farmers, particularly during the olive harvest season, which is crucial for the Palestinian economy. The violence has intensified as Israeli elections approach at the end of the month.
Details of the Attack
Ashtiyeh and another AFP photographer, John Wessels, were near the northern village of Aqraba when they witnessed an Israeli soldier detaining a local man. Suddenly, a quad bike approached, and a man on it opened fire, injuring a Palestinian who was subsequently hospitalized with a gunshot wound.
As Ashtiyeh attempted to enter a clearly marked "Press" vehicle, he was attacked by two men who beat him with rifles. At least a dozen Israeli soldiers were reportedly about 500 meters away during the assault. Wessels recounted, "I could hear his screams," and he himself was threatened at gunpoint.
