An Agence France-Presse photojournalist was injured on Tuesday, October 6, when Israeli settlers beat him and fired gunshots in his direction while he was reporting in the occupied West Bank, the news agency said.
Jaafar Ashtiyeh, a 58-year-old veteran Palestinian photographer, was struck in the head and torso and taken to a hospital by ambulance, according to his colleague John Wessels, AFP’s photo chief for Israel and the Palestinian territories, who was with him at the time of the attack.
Attack Erupted During Olive Harvest Coverage
Ashtiyeh and Wessels were near the village of Aqraba, in the northern occupied West Bank, reporting on the start of the annual olive harvest. While they were watching an Israeli soldier arrest a Palestinian, an off-road vehicle suddenly approached and one of its passengers opened fire toward the journalists and the Palestinians at the scene.
At least six people then ran toward the AFP journalists while firing gunshots. As Ashtiyeh tried to get back into the AFP vehicle to leave the area, two assailants grabbed him and beat him with the butts of their rifles.
Photographer Hospitalized in Nablus
The AFP photographer is now hospitalized in Nablus, in the northern occupied West Bank. He is conscious and is due to undergo medical imaging tests, according to his son, Zain Jaafar.
“We strongly condemn this serious attack — yet another — against journalists trying to report on events in the West Bank, and we demand a thorough investigation,” said Phil Chetwynd, AFP’s global news director.
A Pattern of Attacks on Journalists
The incident is not the first of its kind. In August, three AFP journalists were attacked by Israeli settlers, underscoring what the agency describes as a recurring threat to press freedom in the territory.
- The attack occurred near Aqraba in the northern West Bank during coverage of the annual olive harvest.
- Ashtiyeh sustained injuries to the head and torso and was transported to a hospital in Nablus.
- AFP has demanded a thorough investigation into the assault.
- In August, three AFP journalists were attacked by Israeli settlers in a separate incident.
