Journalists and civilians attacked by settlers in West Bank

On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, Israeli settlers assaulted an Agence France-Presse (AFP) photojournalist and fired shots at him and a colleague while they were documenting settler violence against Palestinians harvesting olives in the West Bank. The incident occurred near the village of Akraba in the northern West Bank, where AFP photographers Jaafar Ashtiyeh and John Wessels were observing an interaction between an Israeli soldier and local residents.

According to reports, a quad-bike approached the journalists at high speed, and a passenger began firing live ammunition. Jaafar Ashtiyeh, 58, sustained injuries to his head and torso and was hospitalized. During the same confrontation, a Palestinian civilian was struck by gunfire in the leg and required transport to a medical facility by the Palestinian Red Crescent. The situation reflects an escalation in tensions during the seasonal olive harvest period.

The injured photographer remains under medical care following the assault. Witnesses and media colleagues confirmed the sequence of events as authorities face reports of continued violence in the region, though no official statements regarding legal proceedings against the perpetrators have been released at this time.