CNN Crew Attacked by Israeli Settlers in West Bank – Rising Violence Against Journalists

In a troubling incident, CNN’s Jerusalem Correspondent Jeremy Diamond and his crew were attacked by Israeli settlers while reporting in the West Bank, shedding light on the escalating violence against journalists in the region.

Israeli Settlers Attack CNN Crew in the West Bank

CNN Jerusalem Correspondent Jeremy Diamond reported that Israeli settlers attacked the vehicle carrying him and his crew while they were on assignment in the West Bank over the weekend.

Details of the Incident

Diamond, an experienced journalist and former White House Correspondent for CNN, was en route to the Palestinian town of Sinjil to cover the circumstances surrounding the death of U.S. citizen Saif al-Din Kamil Abdul Karim Musalat on July 11.

The 20-year-old from Florida was visiting family in Sinjil, where relatives claim he was beaten by Israeli settlers who obstructed ambulances from reaching him as he lay dying from his injuries.

Attack on Journalists

“As we were covering this story, my team and I were attacked by Israeli settlers. The back window of our vehicle was smashed, but we managed to escape unharmed,” Diamond shared on X, along with a photo of the damaged car. “This is just a glimpse of the reality many Palestinians face in the West Bank amid rising settler violence.”

The Foreign Press Association (FPA), representing 400 media professionals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, issued a statement on Tuesday, highlighting that this attack is part of a growing trend of settler violence against both local and international journalists.

Previous Incidents

“This is the second attack on foreign journalists in Sinjil this month. On July 4, a Deutsche Welle team was chased by settlers while filming. Their car was damaged with stones, and the incident occurred in broad daylight, yet no arrests have been reported,” the statement noted.

The FPA emphasized that Palestinian journalists routinely face threats and violence from settlers and security forces, while the foreign press is often vilified by certain Israeli public figures.

In a statement released on July 8, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reported an increase in attacks on both Palestinian and international journalists by Israeli soldiers and settlers.

The IFJ highlighted the case of Palestinian journalist Issam al-Rimawi, who was severely beaten by Israeli settlers in al-Mughayyir, and another incident where Israeli soldiers fired warning shots near a vehicle carrying journalists in Jenin.

Call for Action

The FPA called on Israeli authorities to uphold their commitment to press freedom by ensuring the safety of journalists and prosecuting their assailants. Furthermore, international journalists are currently barred from entering the Gaza Strip unless embedded with the Israeli army.

In an open letter, over 200 press freedom advocacy groups demanded unrestricted access for foreign journalists to Gaza.