Israeli settlers beat AFP photographer covering West Bank

Israeli settlers beat AFP photographer covering West Bank

Armed Israeli settlers on Tuesday beat an AFP photographer, leaving him requiring hospital treatment, as he covered ongoing violence by settlers against the olive farmers in the occupied West Bank.

Jaafar Ashtiyeh, 58, a veteran photographer for the international news agency in the Palestinian territory, suffered bruises to his head and torso and was taken by ambulance to a hospital, according to witnesses, his family and fellow journalists.

Ashtiyeh and another AFP photographer, John Wessels, were near the northern village of Aqraba where they noticed an Israeli soldier detaining a man as local Palestinians picked olives.

A quadbike suddenly raced towards the AFP journalists on top of a hill, and a man from it opened live fire, with one Palestinian dropping to the ground. He was also hospitalised, with a gunshot to the foot, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.

At least six other people then rushed towards the AFP journalists, firing guns. As Ashtiyeh attempted to enter a car, which was clearly marked "Press", two men jumped on him and beat him repeatedly with the butts of their rifles.

Ashtiyeh, who is Palestinian, will remain in hospital for round-the-clock observation.

Reporting by AFP