UPDATES WITH RSF'S REACTION
By Necva Tastan and Nur Asena Erturk
ISTANBUL (AA) – Anadolu photojournalist Mustafa Alkharouf was wounded by Israeli forces in a violent attack in East Jerusalem on Friday, which has garnered widespread condemnation from various international organizations, including the UN, and several governments.
Alessandra Vellucci, director of the UN Information Service, urged all parties to adhere to international human rights law and ensure the protection of journalists.
She said that media equipment, offices, and studios should not be targeted in attacks or reprisals.
Separately, Anthony Bellanger, head of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), condemned the "violent and aggressive" attack on the Anadolu photojournalist, describing it as a nightmare.
He stressed that civilians and journalists are becoming victims of the Israeli military, with at least 64 journalists and media workers killed in Gaza since Oct. 7.
The IFJ plans to document the cases, including the attack against Anadolu's photojournalist, for the International Criminal Court.
The attack on Alkharouf occurred as a group of Palestinians gathered in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood near the Al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers, as the restrictions imposed by the Israeli army on Friday prayer entered the 10th week.
Israeli police, who set up barricades in the area, first pulled out their weapons at Alkharouf, who was covering the news, and then threw him on the ground, beating and kicking him.
He suffered severe blows resulting in injuries to his face and body and was transported by ambulance to the Makassed Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem.
The incident comes amid the over two-month Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 18,800 Palestinians and dozens of journalists.
- Committee to Protect Journalists
The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Israeli authorities to immediately cease attacking journalists, expressing deep shock over the violent assault on Alkharouf.
"The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply shocked by reports and footage of Israeli security forces severely beating Anadolu Agency photojournalist Mustafa Alkharouf and calls for transparency and timeliness by Israeli authorities as they investigate and hold those involved in attacking the journalist to account," it said.
The CPJ emphasized the pattern of attacks on journalists reporting from the West Bank and Israel, urging Israeli authorities to hold those involved accountable and provide protection to journalists.
- Reactions by UK, Germany
The UK urged all parties to avoid deliberate attacks on journalists, emphasizing their crucial role in disseminating accurate information during times of crises.
Also, the German government expressed concern over increased attacks targeting journalists in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The German Foreign Ministry emphasized the importance of respecting freedom of the press and investigating such incidents.
Germany's Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert criticized the Israeli police's behavior in the attack on the Anadolu photojournalist, describing it as "appalling and very worrying."
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also criticized Israel's violence in a statement posted late Friday on X, recalling that two Palestinian journalists including Mustafa Alkharouf "were beaten by members of the Israeli security forces in East Jerusalem."
Noting that one of the reporters was seriously injured, the RSF called "for an end to this continuing violence against the Palestinian press."