An NBC News reporting team was assaulted with sticks and rocks while interviewing a Palestinian family near Jalud, leaving several people injured and prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to condemn the violence and demand that those responsible be arrested.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
An NBC News crew reporting on alleged settler violence in the West Bank was attacked Saturday by masked men who struck members of the team with sticks, threw rocks and damaged their vehicle and equipment near the Palestinian village of Jalud, south of Nablus in Samaria.
NBC international correspondent Matt Bradley, producer Lawahez Jabari, cameraman Khaldoon Eid and a driver were with 51-year-old Aida Ahmed Abdullah and members of her family when the confrontation unfolded.
The journalists had been interviewing Abdullah about her claim that settlers forced her family from their home and were walking toward the residence when a gray vehicle backed up a hill toward them, according to NBC News.
A masked man wearing a blue tracksuit was seen leaning from the vehicle while holding a stick. At least four men dressed in dark clothing with their faces covered then emerged from the vehicle and attacked Abdullah and members of the NBC team.
Bradley was struck twice in the arm during the assault. Rocks were also thrown, while NBC equipment and a vehicle sustained damage.
All of those injured received medical treatment. Abdullah was taken to a hospital, though her injuries were described as not life-threatening.
Jabari said she saw one of the attackers carrying a firearm, although the weapon was not used during the incident.
Eid said the location of the attack surprised him because it occurred inside an area populated by Palestinians.
He said the assault happened “in the middle of a Palestinian area next to Palestinian houses.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement condemning the violence in Jalud and nearby Qusra and said Israeli security agencies were working to identify and arrest those responsible.
“I strongly condemn the criminal acts of violence committed in the villages of Qusra and Jalud by a handful of rioters who are violating the law, causing a grave injustice to the law-abiding Jewish community, interfering with the IDF in carrying out its missions, and harming Israel’s standing in the world.
“The security forces acted swiftly, confiscated three vehicles, and brought the incident to an end within a short time.
“The IDF, the ISA, and the police are conducting a vigorous investigation on the ground, and I expect law enforcement authorities to arrest the rioters and bring them to justice as soon as possible.”
Israeli security forces said they received reports of rioting and confrontations in the area, including stone-throwing, as well as reports that rioters had barricaded themselves inside a Palestinian home.
Security personnel responded by removing the rioters from the residence, separating the opposing groups and protecting local residents, according to the account provided.
Authorities also confiscated vehicles belonging to the rioters.
The Israel Defense Forces and Border Police continued operating in Qusra and Jalud following the disturbances as the investigation remained underway.
The attack occurred while the NBC team was gathering material about Palestinian allegations of violence by Israeli settlers in the area. Abdullah had been describing her family’s claim that they had been driven from their home when the masked men approached and assaulted the group.
Netanyahu characterized those responsible as a small group of lawbreakers and said their actions harmed both Israel’s international standing and the broader law-abiding Jewish community.
Israeli authorities said security forces ended the immediate confrontation within a short period and continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the violence.
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