West Bank settlers attack AFP journalists

Israeli settlers in the West Bank targeted AFP journalists covering tensions with Palestinians, resulting in five people being injured, according to the reporters and medics. The three-person AFP team had come to the village of Jannatah, near Bethlehem, to document the activities of Israeli activists who engage in solidarity visits with Palestinians who have faced harassment from settlers.

Following a confrontation between settlers and activists, the Israeli military instructed journalists to vacate the area, labeling it a closed military zone. Shortly thereafter, additional settlers entered and began throwing stones at the journalists and activists. One AFP journalist managed to evade a stone, but another was struck in the chin by a child settler with a stick, causing minor bleeding.

Both of the AFP journalists' vehicles sustained damage, with smashed back windscreens and punctured tires. The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that five individuals received medical treatment for their injuries, including at least one Israeli activist who was transported to a Palestinian ambulance. The West Bank, home to approximately three million Palestinians, is inhabited by over 500,000 Israelis, as per Israel's occupation since 1967.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government has been advancing construction projects in the region ahead of the upcoming Oct 27 elections. The story highlights a surge in violence against Palestinians perpetrated by Israeli settlers in recent times, notably since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack from Gaza.