Israeli Forces Assault AFP Journalist; Killed Rescue Worker Aiding Wounded Palestinians

Israeli Forces Assault AFP Journalist; Killed Rescue Worker Aiding Wounded Palestinians

By TheNATIONWEEK.com News Desk | October 8, 2026

GAZA/WEST BANK, Palestine – The brutal realities of ongoing violence in the Palestinian territories continue to claim civilian lives and endanger those reporting and responding to crises. 

In two alarming incidents, an Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer was severely beaten by armed Israeli settlers in the West Bank, while a Gaza Civil Defense volunteer was killed by an Israeli airstrike while attempting to aid wounded Palestinians.

Israeli Armed Settlers Attack AFP Journalist During Olive Harvest Coverage

Veteran AFP photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh, 58, required hospitalization after being brutally assaulted by armed Israeli settlers on Tuesday. He was covering settler violence against Palestinian olive farmers near Aqraba, a village in the northern West Bank.

Ashtiyeh and fellow AFP photographer John Wessels observed an Israeli soldier detaining a man amidst olive-picking activities when a quad bike carrying an armed individual approached. The individual opened fire, striking a Palestinian in the foot, who was subsequently hospitalized.

Moments later, at least six other armed individuals converged on the journalists. As Ashtiyeh attempted to enter his clearly marked “Press” vehicle, two men assaulted him with rifle butts, inflicting deep wounds and bruises to his head and torso. 

Wessels, also threatened at gunpoint, recounted hearing Ashtiyeh’s screams. Ashtiyeh, a Palestinian, is currently under observation at a hospital in Nablus for broken bones and requires ongoing care. His camera equipment was stolen during the attack.

The assault reportedly occurred despite the presence of at least a dozen fully equipped Israeli soldiers approximately 500 meters away, who, according to Wessels, made no attempt to intervene. The initial assailant was described as wearing attire commonly worn by soldiers.

Phil Chetwynd, AFP’s global news director, condemned the “serious attack on journalists trying to report on events in the West Bank.” He demanded a full investigation and emphasized the unacceptability of journalists being beaten and robbed by armed settlers in the presence of Israeli security forces who failed to intervene. 

The Foreign Press Association echoed these concerns, calling for an investigation into the military’s inaction and stressing that such attacks are “a blatant attempt to intimidate the press and obstruct accurate reporting.”

This incident reflects a recent surge in violence in the West Bank, characterized by near-daily attacks, thefts, and vandalism by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, often involving the seizure of culturally significant olive groves. 

Approximately 500,000 Israeli settlers reside in the West Bank, which Israel occupied in 1967, alongside three million Palestinians. Settlements in occupied territory are illegal under international law.

Rescue Volunteer Killed by Israeli Airstrike While Responding to Wounded Palestinians

In a separate tragic event, Mohammad Tammous, a dedicated Gaza Civil Defense volunteer, was killed on Wednesday when an Israeli airstrike struck near Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. Tammous was en route to evacuate Palestinians wounded in an earlier attack when the blast critically injured him. He later succumbed to his wounds at Al-Shifa Hospital, a death confirmed by Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal.

Since 2023, Tammous had relentlessly served his community, pulling survivors from rubble, providing first aid, recovering victims, and extinguishing fires. He was actively engaged in a rescue mission when the fatal strike occurred.

Tammous’s death underscores the perilous reality faced by Gaza’s emergency workers, who are frequently targeted in areas designated for safety, including hospitals and rescue zones, even amidst a ceasefire in place since October 2025. His killing adds to a growing roster of rescuers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, highlighting the extreme risks faced by those dedicated to saving lives in the conflict-ridden Strip.

Israeli Army Arrests Two Palestinian Children

The Israeli army has arrested two Palestinian children west of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. These arrests come amid ongoing Israeli military activity across the territory and renewed concerns over the detention of Palestinian minors. Palestinian sources and rights advocates have documented allegations involving harsh conditions in detention, including sexual and physical abuse, restrictions on food, medical neglect, and solitary confinement. 

The issue of Palestinian children in detention remains a contentious human rights concern. These latest arrests are likely to draw further attention as international scrutiny of conditions for Palestinian detainees continues.

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