A Palestinian farmer (L) attempts to prevent Israeli settlers from approaching an olive grove being harvested near the Palestinian village of Silwad, northeast of Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 29, 2025. (Photo credit: Zain Jaafar/AFP)
The Foreign Press Association (FPA) condemned on Monday attacks by Israeli settlers on journalists in the occupied West Bank, especially during this year's olive harvest. The organization, which represents hundreds of international journalists, including in the occupied Palestinian territories, said it was "appalled" by the recent attacks and urged Israeli authorities to halt the "violence immediately."
"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 FPA said, citing two incidents involving journalists from international media outlets.
The FPA said that on Saturday two Reuters employees, wearing clearly marked press vests and helmets, were assaulted by masked Israeli civilians armed with clubs and rocks near the Palestinian village of Beita.
"A mob of dozens of settlers beat ... a female reporter, while she was already on the ground, resulting in severe injuries," the FPA said.
"They also attacked those who tried to help her. A Reuters security person was hit, and two freelance Palestinian journalists were injured while being chased."
On Oct. 10, settlers beat a veteran AFP photographer with sticks when filming the olive harvest in the same area.
His car, along with a handful of others parked at a safe distance from the field, was stoned and then set on fire by the assailants.
"The photographer, who testified it was one of the worst attacks in his 30-year career, reported that Israeli forces at the scene refused to intervene, instead firing rubber bullets and tear gas at olive pickers and activists accompanying them," the FPA said, adding that several such incidents have occurred in the last few weeks.
"Israeli forces routinely harass and intimidate journalists, in some cases detaining them and threatening them with deportation," the FPA said.
"This is all part of a deepening climate of hostility toward the media by Israeli authorities," it added, urging the authorities to investigate the incidents and hold the perpetrators accountable.
"In particular, we urge central command head Avi Bluth and police commander Moshe Pinchi to uphold their duties to ensure that journalists can work freely and safely," the association said.
"There cannot be press freedom in an environment in which journalists are threatened and harmed with complete impunity."
When contacted by AFP, the Israeli military did not give an immediate response.
An AFP journalist serves on the FPA's board of directors.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and Israeli settlements there continue to expand.
An estimated 500,000 illegal Israeli settlers live in the occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank.
Settlers are known to harass and attack Palestinian farmers trying to access their olive groves, a tactic that contributes to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian lands. Settlers have engaged in this form of harassment almost every day this year since the season began in mid-October, according to the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Almost none of the perpetrators have been held to account by the Israeli authorities.
Beyond the harassment of farmers specifically, violence in the West Bank has soared since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023.
