Journalist Injured by Projectile While Covering Settler Attacks Near Ramallah

Journalist Issam Al-Rimawi recounted his injury while covering settler violence against farmers and solidarity activists during the olive harvest season near the village of Deir Biziya, northwest of Ramallah. Al-Rimawi stated he was shot with a metal-tipped bullet at close range as he was leaving the area, despite wearing a press vest, helmet, and carrying his camera.

Al-Rimawi explained that he went to the "Al-Khalah" area, where a new settlement outpost was established months prior, following calls from villagers to access their olive groves. Hundreds of residents and international solidarity activists had gathered to assist farmers in reaching their lands and harvesting olives amidst ongoing difficulties.

He witnessed an attack by approximately ten settlers armed with sticks, who threw stones at residents and women harvesting olives. These attacks occurred in an area with hundreds of dunams of olive land, crucial for the villagers' livelihood.

Later, while with farmers in another location, Israeli military and border police forces arrived, firing rubber bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas, ordering the farmers to leave. Al-Rimawi, wearing his press gear, was then struck by a metal-tipped bullet from close range as he departed. He emphasized that his press identification did not prevent his injury, noting a worsening situation for journalists covering events.

Al-Rimawi linked his injury to the broader context of attacks on farmers and olive harvesters during the season, highlighting the olive tree's importance as a primary source of income for Palestinians. The incident underscores the risks journalists face while covering field events and the challenges farmers encounter in accessing their lands during harvest time.