Israeli Settlers Attack AFP Journalists in West Bank

Israeli settlers attacked Agence France-Presse journalists and activists in the West Bank village of Jannatah near Bethlehem on Tuesday. The violence occurred while reporters were covering tensions between Palestinians and settlers who had recently blocked a local road.

Following an altercation between settlers and activists, the Israeli military declared the area a closed military zone and ordered journalists to leave. As the press departed, settlers, including children, threw stones and struck one journalist in the chin with a stick. The attackers also punctured the tires and smashed the windshields of two AFP vehicles.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that five people were treated for injuries resulting from the clash. This incident follows a broader increase in settler violence against Palestinians and expanded construction in the West Bank under the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.