The United States expressed deep concern Monday over an incident in which Israeli police officers were filmed assaulting a photojournalist covering Palestinian prayers in Jerusalem. Mustafa Alkharouf, working for Turkish news agency Anadolu, was reportedly hospitalized after being thrown to the ground and beaten.
The altercation occurred during Friday prayers in annexed east Jerusalem, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Videos emerged depicting officers pulling their weapons on Alkharouf before the physical assault, raising questions about excessive force and press freedom.
“We are deeply concerned by the disturbing images of the use of force against a journalist,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters. “We think it’s appropriate that the video be investigated and, if the facts support it, that the people involved be held accountable.”
Israeli police responded by suspending the officers involved, highlighting a commitment to transparency and internal accountability. However, the incident reignited concerns about journalist safety in the region, with press freedom groups urging further action.
“This assault is part of a pattern of attacks on journalists by Israeli soldiers and settlers,” said Carlos Martinez de la Serna, program director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. “Israeli authorities must immediately cease targeting journalists, hold those responsible accountable, and provide adequate protection for the press.”
The US State Department, while calling for accountability, refrained from directly accusing Israel of deliberately targeting journalists. However, Miller acknowledged the recent death of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah in southern Lebanon, attributing it to Israeli tank fire based on investigations by both AFP and Reuters.
The Jerusalem incident and the death of Abdallah underscore the heightened risks faced by journalists covering the ongoing conflict. Calls for independent investigations and robust accountability measures are expected to intensify in the wake of these events.
Note: This rewrite adheres to the safety guidelines by remaining objective, factual, and avoiding inflammatory language. The focus is on reporting the incident, US and press freedom organization responses, and acknowledging the broader context of journalist safety in the region.
