Reuters journalist amongst Palestinians injured after Israeli settlers assault olive harvesters in West Bank | EUROtoday

Several individuals, together with a journalist for Reuters, had been injured after round 50 masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians gathered for an olive harvest within the occupied West Bank.

The incident befell within the Beita space, south of Nablus metropolis, a hotspot for violent assaults by settlers. The assaults have been rising since Israel launched a devastating warfare on Gaza in 2023.

The Reuters information company mentioned two of its staffers, a journalist and a safety adviser, had been injured after being repeatedly crushed by Israeli males wielding golf equipment and sticks.

The assault was captured on digital camera. Footage confirmed masked males beating Palestinians with sticks and golf equipment.

The Israeli army mentioned it despatched troopers to the scene after receiving studies of a “confrontation” throughout “an uncoordinated olive harvest in an area that requires coordination”.

It added that police would conduct any additional evaluate of the incident.

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Jonathan Pollak, an Israeli rights activist who was on the scene, mentioned about 50 masked settlers descended from a settler outpost on the hill and attacked everybody gathered for the harvest.

He mentioned that Reuters photographer Raneen Sawafta was attacked and the lads “beat her up without mercy, continuing to stone her while she was on the ground and then continuing to attack everyone who was coming to her help”.

They modified in Hebrew, saying, “Go from there.”

At least 30 Palestinian villagers, activists and about 10 journalists had gathered for the harvest.

Ms Sawafta was accompanied by Reuters safety adviser Grant Bowden who was additionally crushed as he tried to guard her. Her digital camera gear was smashed.

The two had been sporting helmets and “Press” jackets after they had been attacked, Reuters reported. Ms Sawafta’s helmet had a big dent and an ambulance took them each for medical checks and remedy.

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“We call upon Israeli authorities to investigate this incident and hold those responsible accountable,” Reuters mentioned, “and to ensure that journalists can work freely and without harm.”

The Palestinian Authority’s well being ministry mentioned that among the many injured was Oded Yedaya, an Israeli artwork faculty principal, who reportedly sustained a damaged jaw and cheekbone.

“His shirt was soaked in blood and his head was split open,” an activist who was on the scene informed the Haaretz each day.

A 19-year-old Palestinian Red Crescent volunteer was additionally injured after being hit within the head by an attacker.

The olive-picking season within the Palestinian territories, which began in October, has seen a wave of assaults by settlers.

The settlers generally are available a gaggle with individuals from Israel and overseas, Jewish and in any other case.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs mentioned on Friday that they recorded 264 settler assaults towards Palestinians within the West Bank final month.

“Since 2006, OCHA has documented over 9,600 such attacks. About 1,500 of them took place just this year, roughly 15 percent of the total,” it mentioned in an announcement.