Journalists take cover from Israeli army fire during an army operation in the West Bank The Israeli army have launched an official investigation after two Reuters cameramen were attacked by soldiers in the West Bank. Israeli soldiers punched Yousri Al Jamal and Ma'amoun Wazwaz , forcing them to strip down to their underwear in the street before letting off a tear gas canister in front of them. One required hospital treatment following the incident which occurred in central Hebron on Wednesday evening.
“The regional brigade commander was ordered to open an investigation,” military spokeswoman Avital Leibovich said on Thursday.
The journalists were travelling to a nearby checkpoint in Hebron when the assault happened, where Palestinian teenager Mohamed Ziad Salayma had recently been shot dead by an Israeli border guard.
The soldiers then forced the cameramen to stop the vehicle and get out, accusing them of working for the Israeli non-governmental organisation B’Tselem. The rights group recently distributed camera equipment to locals to film soldiers and settlers in the area.
They proceeded to physically assualt Yousri Al Jamal and Ma'amoun Wazwaz, making them strip and kneel down in the street. Tear gas was fired, causing Wazwaz to require medical attention for the fumes afterwards.
"We deplore the mistreatment of our journalists and have registered our extreme dismay with the Israeli military authorities," said Reuters News editor-in-chief, Stephen J. Adler.
No further information will be released until the conclusion of the inquiry.