Key Takeaways
- Israeli settlers beat a veteran Palestinian photographer with the butts of their guns.
- The assault occurred in the presence of Israeli soldiers, who did not intervene.
- The photographer, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, was hospitalised after the attack.
Israeli settlers have been accused of violently attacking a press photographer in the occupied West Bank, according to reports.
Jaafar Ashtiyeh, a 58-year-old veteran photographer for Agence France-Presse, was beaten with the butts of guns by a group of settlers while covering violence against olive farmers.
The incident took place in the presence of about a dozen armed Israeli soldiers, who did not intervene, despite their duty to protect journalists.
Ashtiyeh, who has been working as a photographer in Palestine for many years, was hospitalised following the attack, which took place on an unspecified date.
The violence against olive farmers has been escalating, with settlers targeting the livelihoods of Palestinian farmers, according to eyewitnesses.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions and the challenges faced by journalists in reporting on the conflict in the West Bank.
The lack of protection from Israeli soldiers has raised concerns about the safety of journalists and the impartiality of press coverage in the region.
The attack on Ashtiyeh has drawn condemnation from human rights organisations and journalists' unions, who have called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
