On his way to cover an olive harvest, AFP photographer ends up capturing a deadly attack

HEBRON, Palestinian Territories - On Friday, an AFP photographer named Hazem Bader experienced a deadly attack while en route to photograph the Palestinian olive harvest. Two Israeli soldiers were killed, and the attackers were also killed in the crossfire. Bader had originally planned to cover the olive harvest in Beit Jala, but he was driving from his home in Hebron to a hotel where peace activists were meeting to protect Palestinians from settler violence.

As he approached a checkpoint, he saw people fleeing and heard gunfire. Bader sought safety behind his car, parked behind two trucks for added protection, and activated his protective gear. He began photographing the firefight and took images of the attackers as they fired and then lay lifeless on the ground as Israeli forces arrived.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a strong response to the attack, which occurred just four days before Israeli elections. Israeli media outlets initially reported incorrectly that the Israeli military was investigating whether Bader had received a tip about the attack, but the military denied any investigation was underway.

The Jerusalem Post, citing unnamed police officials, also reported that Bader was not under suspicion. The Foreign Press Association, representing international journalists covering Israel and the Palestinian territories, expressed deep alarm over the false media reports. They emphasized that Bader was a seasoned professional documenting what he saw, in accordance with his professional duties, and that accusing him otherwise was baseless and dangerous to journalists.