The Foreign Press Association once again calls on the Israeli army to ensure the safety of journalists following a pair of incidents in which soldiers harassed reporters in the West Bank.

On Friday, a crew from Radio-Canada/CBC was filming an olive orchard in the northern West Bank when soldiers pushed the journalists and confiscated their camera. After an FPA complaint to the army, the soldiers returned the camera, but it was damaged. “We make the rules,” the soldiers said. 

In the Hebron area, meanwhile, an ARD cameraman and his soundman were detained near Qawawis where there had been an incident with settlers. Soldiers detained the team for two hours, with phones and camera temporarily confiscated, eventually releasing them.  

These are the latest in a series of violence committed by soldiers against journalists during the current Israel-Hamas war. The military spokesman’s office has made promises to ensure the safety of journalists. While we welcome such pledges, we urge the military to turn those words into action.

The Foreign Press Association also continues to call on all parties to ensure safety and freedom of reporting for journalists on the ground in Gaza, who are reporting in extremely dangerous circumstances.