Armed Israeli settlers beat and rob AFP photographer – media

Jaafar Ashtiyeh was reportedly struck with rifle butts despite being clearly identified as press, while around a dozen IDF soldiers looked on Armed Israeli settlers have beaten and robbed an AFP photographer marked as press in the occupied West Bank, according to media reports. Around a dozen IDF soldiers were present and did not intervene.Veteran Palestinian photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh was hospitalized after being repeatedly struck with rifle butts. The assault is the latest in a growing series of attacks on journalists in the West Bank.The Committee to Protect Journalists documented at least 16 incidents involving 35 Palestinian, Israeli and international journalists in the first eight months of 2026 alone, already exceeding the 13 incidents involving 25 journalists it recorded throughout 2025. The attack took place near the village of Aqraba on Tuesday as Ashtiyeh, 58, and fellow AFP photographer John Wessels were documenting Palestinians harvesting olives. The journalists saw an Israeli soldier detaining a Palestinian before a man on a quad bike approached and opened fire, according to AFP. A Palestinian was shot in the foot and hospitalized, the Palestine Red Crescent Society...