“Two employees of the international news agency Reuters – a journalist and her security adviser – were injured as a result of a brutal attack by Israeli settlers on a group of Palestinians, activists and journalists during the olive harvest in the Israeli-occupied West Bank”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Source: Reuters
Details: On Saturday, dozens of masked Israeli settlers attacked a group of about 30 Palestinian villagers, activists and journalists who had gathered to harvest olives near the village of Beita, south of Nablus, according to Reuters and witnesses. The attackers beat people with sticks and threw large stones at them.
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Reuters photojournalist Ranin Sawafta suffered multiple blows and injuries after the Israelis knocked her down and continued to beat her as she lay on the ground.
Her security adviser, Grant Bowden, tried to protect a colleague, for which he was also beaten. Both employees were wearing protective helmets and vests clearly marked “Press”.
An ambulance took Sawafta and Bowden to a hospital in the Palestinian city of Nablus. A large dent remained on the journalist’s helmet from the impact.
Israeli human rights activist Jonathan Pollack, who was at the scene, said that about 50 masked Israeli settlers took part in the attack. He testified that the attackers “beat her mercilessly … and then attacked anyone who tried to help her.”
Literally: “As these attacks have increased, Israeli and other activists have often joined the Palestinians to support them and their right to harvest olives, and have documented any incidents of violence against them. Activists or local Palestinians often inform journalists of harvest plans so they can be present to cover the events.”
Details: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it dispatched soldiers to the scene as soon as it received reports of the attack. At the same time, witnesses claim that they did not see a single Israeli soldier at the scene.
“We call on the Israeli authorities to investigate this incident and bring those responsible to justice, as well as to ensure that journalists have the opportunity to work freely and without health risks,” Reuters said in a statement.
Israeli settlers carried out at least 264 attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank in October, the highest monthly toll since 2006, according to a UN report. Israeli human rights activists point out that Israel rarely investigates such incidents and brings the perpetrators to justice.