Foreign Press Association demands action from Israel over settler attacks on journalists

An organization representing international media in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza on Monday condemned attacks by Israeli settlers on journalists in the West Bank, urging Israeli authorities to halt the “violence immediately.”

The Foreign Press Association (FPA), which represents hundreds of foreign journalists, said it was “appalled” by the recent attacks, especially during this year’s olive harvest.

“Journalists, both local and foreign, have proven to be a clear target as they document an unprecedented level of unchecked violence against Palestinians during this year’s olive harvest,” the association said, citing two incidents involving journalists from international media outlets.

The FPA said that on Saturday, two employees of Reuters wearing clearly marked press vests and helmets were assaulted by masked Israeli civilians armed with clubs and rocks near the Palestinian village of Beita.

“A mob of dozens of settlers beat one of the employees, a female reporter, while she was already on the ground, resulting in severe injuries,” the FPA said.

“They also attacked those who tried to help her. A Reuters security person was hit, and two Palestinian freelance journalists were injured while being chased.”

On October 10, settlers beat a veteran AFP photographer with sticks when filming the olive harvest in the same area.

His car, along with a handful of others parked at a safe distance from the field, was stoned and then set on fire by the assailants.

“The photographer, who testified it was one of the worst attacks in his 30-year career, reported that Israeli forces at the scene refused to intervene, instead firing rubber bullets and tear gas at olive pickers and activists accompanying them,” the FPA said.

Several such incidents have occurred in the last few weeks, the FPA added.

“Israeli forces routinely harass and intimidate journalists, in some cases detaining them and threatening them with deportation,” the FPA said.

“This is all part of a deepening climate of hostility toward the media by Israeli authorities,” it added, urging the authorities to investigate the incidents and hold the perpetrators accountable.

“In particular, we urge [IDF] central command head Major General Avi Bluth and [West Bank] police commander Moshe Pinchi to uphold their duties to ensure that journalists can work freely and safely,” the association said.

“There cannot be press freedom in an environment in which journalists are threatened and harmed with complete impunity.”

When contacted by AFP, the Israeli military did not give an immediate response.

An AFP journalist serves on the FPA’s board of directors.

In the wake of the settler attack near Beita, the IDF said at the time that troops had been dispatched to the area following reports of a clash between Israelis and Palestinians “during an uncoordinated olive harvest in an area that requires coordination.”

“Upon the forces’ arrival at the area of confrontation, where Palestinians and Israeli civilians were harvesting olives, several Israeli civilians threw stones at the harvesters,” the army said, adding that it had transferred the case over to the police.

The West Bank, which is home to more than two-and-a-half million Palestinians and over 500,000 Israeli settlers, has seen soaring violence since war erupted between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, sparked by the terror group’s deadly invasion into Israel.

Since the start of the annual olive harvest season in mid-October, Palestinians have increasingly reported that they are being barred from entering their lands to harvest olives due to military restrictions. At the same time, when they are able to access their trees, attacks by Israeli extremists have allegedly continued unabated, locals and activists have charged.

Almost none of the perpetrators of attacks against Palestinian olive harvesters have been held to account by Israeli authorities.

Nurit Yohanan contributed to this report.