Foreign Press Association slams Israel for blocking Gaza access

Jerusalem: The Foreign Press Association (FPA), representing international media outlets in Israel and the Palestinian territories, has denounced a series of violent attacks by Israeli settlers targeting journalists in the occupied West Bank. The organisation urged Israeli authorities to immediately halt the escalating “violence and intimidation” against the press.

In a statement issued on Monday, the FPA said it was “appalled” by the recent wave of assaults, particularly during this year’s olive harvest season. “Journalists, both local and foreign, have proven to be a clear target as they document an unprecedented level of unchecked violence against Palestinians during this year's olive harvest,” the group stated.

The association cited two specific incidents involving international reporters. On Saturday, two Reuters journalists wearing clearly marked press vests and helmets were attacked near the Palestinian village of Beita by masked settlers wielding clubs and rocks. According to the FPA, a female reporter was severely beaten while on the ground, and others who attempted to assist her were also assaulted. A Reuters security officer and two Palestinian freelance journalists sustained injuries during the attack.

In a separate incident on 10 October, settlers attacked an AFP photographer covering the olive harvest in the same area. His car and several others parked nearby were stoned and set ablaze. The photographer, who described it as one of the worst attacks in his 30-year career, alleged that Israeli security forces present at the scene refused to intervene, instead using rubber bullets and tear gas against Palestinian farmers and activists.

“These attacks reflect a deepening climate of hostility toward the media by Israeli authorities,” the FPA warned, calling for a full investigation and accountability for the perpetrators. “There cannot be press freedom in an environment in which journalists are threatened and harmed with complete impunity,” the statement added.

The FPA also urged Major General Avi Bluth, head of the central command, and police commander Moshe Pinchi to uphold their duty to protect journalists operating in the region.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and violence in the area has intensified since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Around 500,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the territory, and attacks on Palestinian farmers and journalists have become increasingly common during the olive harvest season, with few perpetrators held accountable.

According to AFP report when they contacted the Israeli military did not provide an immediate response. An AFP journalist serves on the FPA’s board of directors.