Armed Israeli Settlers Beat and Rob AFP Photographer

Armed Israeli settlers beat and robbed Agence France-Presse photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh on Tuesday near the village of Aqraba in the West Bank. Ashtiyeh and colleague John Wessels were documenting settler violence against Palestinian olive farmers when a man on a quad bike opened fire, wounding a Palestinian in the foot. At least six armed men then tackled Ashtiyeh, beating him with rifle butts as he tried to enter a press-marked vehicle, and stole his camera equipment.

Ashtiyeh was hospitalized in Nablus with bruises to his head and torso. Witnesses and Wessels reported that approximately 12 Israel Defense Forces soldiers were stationed 500 meters away but did not intervene during the assault. The Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police did not immediately comment on the incident, though leadership from both organizations held a security assessment on Tuesday to address nationalist crime.

Agence France-Presse condemned the attack and demanded a full investigation, stating 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." The Committee to Protect Journalists noted a broader trend of violence in the region, documenting 16 incidents involving 35 journalists during the first eight months of 2026.