US calls for border cops to ‘be held accountable’ for beating Palestinian photojournalist

The US is “deeply concerned” by footage of Border Police officers beating a defenseless Palestinian photojournalist in East Jerusalem on Friday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says.

“We are deeply concerned by the disturbing images of the use of force against a journalist that was depicted in those videos, and we think it’s appropriate that… the video be investigated, and if the facts support it, that the people involved be held accountable,” Miller says during a press briefing in response to a question on the matter.

Mustafa Haruf was hospitalized with head injuries and said he was attacked without cause after leaving a prayer protest broken up by Israeli security forces in the Wadi Joz neighborhood.

Footage shows one border cop approaching Haruf and striking him with the barrel of his weapon. He is then flung to the floor by an officer and repeatedly kicked in the head and the body as he lies on the ground screaming in pain.

The Border Police later announced that it suspended the two officers involved in the incident and that the Department of Internal Police Investigations opened a probe into the matter.

An earlier police statement said journalists had sought to interfere with their operations in the area and refused orders to vacate the premises.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees the police, issued a statement over the weekend expressing his support for the officers and calling for them to be allowed to return to their duties.