A French agency photojournalist was injured today in an attack by Israeli settlers on the north West Bank, while covering the olive tree in a Palestinian community.

“In the thirty years of my career, this is the first time I have been facing such violence,” said Jafar Astigie, a Palestinian Palestinian photojournalist based in Nablus of the West Bank, Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, “if I had not managed to do it.”

According to his testimony, Astigie covered the olive picking in Batea, a Palestinian village south of Nablus and, more specifically, with the action of solidarity with Israeli and foreign peacekeepers who found themselves there to support them.

Shortly after noon, two groups of settlers, armed with globes and stones – 70 people – attacked those who collected olives and journalists. Astigie was struck with stones on his back, arm and palm. It has bruises and was discharged from the hospital in the afternoon.

His car, like some others parked far from the fields, was set on fire by the perpetrators.

Astigie said that the Israeli soldiers who were present at the site before the attack even started did nothing to stop her, instead shooting with plastic bullets and threw tears on the side of activists and those who gathered the olives.

We strongly condemn this scandalous attack that once again shows the increasingly dangerous work environment for journalists on the West Bank, “said Mehdi Lembuasra, editor -in -chief of AFP. “We urge the Israeli army not only to guarantee the protection of journalists in practicing their profession but also to ensure that the perpetrators of violence against them are brought to justice,” he added.

The French agency contacted the Israeli army demanding its own version, but had not received a response until late at night.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 36 people were injured today by settlers in Batea and other communities. Most have slight injuries, with the exception of two with bullet injuries.