A veteran photographer for Agence France-Presse was hospitalized after armed Israeli settlers beat him with rifle butts in the occupied West Bank, while about a dozen Israeli soldiers stood by and watched without intervening.
Jaafar Ashtiyeh, 58, was covering the escalating violence targeting Palestinian olive farmers near the northern village of Aqraba when the assault occurred. Despite being clearly marked as press, Ashtiyeh was set upon by the armed group, sustaining bruises to his head and torso. He was transported to a hospital in Nablus for round-the-clock observation.
The incident unfolded as Ashtiyeh and fellow AFP photographer John Wessels observed an Israeli soldier detaining a man while local Palestinians harvested olives. Suddenly, a quad bike sped toward the journalists. The rider, dressed in military fatigue trousers, boots, and a long white shirt, opened fire with live ammunition. A Palestinian man was shot in the foot and subsequently hospitalized, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
Following the initial gunfire, at least six other armed individuals rushed toward the journalists, firing weapons. As Ashtiyeh tried to seek safety inside a vehicle clearly labeled "Press," two of the assailants jumped him, repeatedly striking him with the butts of their rifles. Wessels, who was threatened at gunpoint during the ordeal, recalled hearing his colleague's screams. The attackers also stole Ashtiyeh's camera gear.
Wessels noted that a group of at least 12 Israeli soldiers was positioned approximately 500 meters away during the beating but did not step in. While Ashtiyeh remained conscious, his son, Zain Jaafar, confirmed that X-rays did not show any broken bones, though doctors kept him hospitalized for observation.
The attack drew sharp condemnation from international media organizations. Phil Chetwynd, AFP’s global news director, strongly condemned the assault and demanded 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," Chetwynd said.
The Foreign Press Association, which represents international media in Israel and the Palestinian territories, expressed deep alarm and urged Israeli authorities to investigate the soldiers' inaction. The association stated that the attack was "a blatant attempt to intimidate the press and obstruct accurate reporting," adding that international media "will not be deterred by physical assaults or threats."
The annual olive harvest is a critical economic lifeline for Palestinians, but it is frequently marred by settler attacks that carry few legal consequences. This year's harvest season has seen heightened violence ahead of the Israeli elections at the end of the month. Around 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank alongside 3 million Palestinians, in settlements considered illegal under international law.
According to the UN Human Rights Office, Israel was the leading killer of journalists globally in 2025, with at least 225 journalists killed in Lebanon and Gaza. In the West Bank, media rights groups report growing obstacles and targeting of journalists by settlers. Reporters Without Borders noted that Israeli authorities have detained 19 journalists in the West Bank, including an AFP contributor, in the three years following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
There have also been attacks against Israelis, with a Palestinian shooting dead a settler last month.
Extremist Israeli settlers have been seizing olive groves owned by Palestinians, who consider the trees a cultural symbol.
