French Agency Photographers Attacked by Settlers in West Bank

Two Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographers were attacked by settlers in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday while covering settler violence that has escalated with the olive harvest season. Jaafar Ashtiyeh, 58, an AFP photographer in the Palestinian territories, sustained head and torso bruises and was taken by Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance to a Nablus hospital, according to eyewitnesses, his family, and colleagues. Ashtiyeh and fellow AFP photographer John Wessels were near the town of Aqrabah in the northern West Bank when they observed an Israeli soldier detaining a man while Palestinians harvested olives. Suddenly, a quad bike carrying settlers approached the journalists. One settler fired live ammunition, hitting a Palestinian in the leg, who was then hospitalized. Subsequently, at least six more settlers advanced on the AFP photographers, firing their weapons. As Ashtiyeh attempted to get into his car, two settlers attacked him, beating him with their weapons. Wessels, who also reported being threatened with a weapon, said he could hear Ashtiyeh screaming. Ashtiyeh's son, Zain Ashtiyeh, stated his father was conscious and undergoing X-ray examinations at the Nablus hospital. Wessels added that the settlers also confiscated Ashtiyeh's camera equipment. Wessels noted the initial shooter wore clothing similar to that of soldiers. AFP News Director Phil Chetwynd condemned the "dangerous new attack" on journalists, demanding a thorough investigation and stating it is unacceptable for journalists to be assaulted and robbed by armed settlers in front of Israeli security forces who did not intervene. Settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has intensified recently, with daily attacks including physical assaults, land and crop theft, and vandalism. Palestinians claim settlers, sometimes with the support of Israeli soldiers, have stolen olives from their fields. Press freedom organizations report an increasing targeting of reporters by settlers and growing restrictions on media coverage by authorities. Reporters Without Borders stated that Israeli authorities detained 19 journalists in the West Bank in the three years following October 7, 2023, including an AFP contributor.