Israeli settlers attack journalist in West Bank as soldiers watch

Israeli settlers beat and robbed a veteran press photographer in the occupied West Bank while a dozen armed soldiers watched without intervening. Jaafar Ashtiyeh, a 58-year-old photographer for Agence France-Presse, suffered head and torso bruises during the assault near the village of Aqraba and was taken to a hospital in Nablus for medical observation.

The violence erupted during a tense olive harvest season as Israeli elections approach at the end of the month. Ashtiyeh and fellow AFP photographer John Wessels were documenting local farmers when a quad bike approached and opened fire, wounding a Palestinian in the foot. At least six armed men then rushed toward the journalists. As Ashtiyeh moved toward a vehicle marked Press, two assailants jumped on him and struck him repeatedly with rifle butts. The soldiers remained roughly 500 metres away. The attackers confiscated Ashtiyeh’s camera equipment before leaving.

Hospital staff performed X-rays that showed no broken bones. His son, Zain Jaafar, said the photographer remained conscious and would stay under round-the-clock medical monitoring. AFP has requested a statement from the Israeli military regarding the incident.

Media organizations have condemned the violence and demanded accountability. “We strongly condemn yet another serious attack on journalists trying to report on events in the West Bank and demand a full investigation. It is unacceptable that journalists can be beaten and robbed by armed settlers in front of Israeli security forces who made no attempt to intervene,” said Phil Chetwynd, AFP’s global news director. The Foreign Press Association echoed these calls, urging authorities to explain why nearby troops failed to protect clearly identified reporters.

The incident highlights a broader pattern of violence against press workers and civilians in the region. UN data shows Israel killed at least 225 journalists across Lebanon and Gaza in 2025, making it the deadliest country for media workers globally. Reporters Without Borders reported that Israeli forces detained 19 journalists in the West Bank since the 7 October, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. Roughly 500,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the territory Israel captured in 1967, alongside 3 million Palestinians.