Over the weekend, a CNN news team was reportedly attacked by Israeli settlers in the Palestinian town of Singil while covering the death of a U.S. citizen, as mentioned by Jeremy Diamond, a correspondent based in Jerusalem.
Diamond, an experienced journalist, and his team said they were deliberately targeted during their investigation into the death of 20-year-old Saif al-Din Kamil Abdul Karim Musalat, a Florida native.
Musalat was allegedly beaten by settlers while visiting family in the area. His relatives claim that an ambulance was unable to reach him in time, resulting in severe injuries.
In a post, Diamond described their experience, stating, “As we were covering this story, my team and I were attacked by Israeli settlers. The windows behind our car were destroyed, but we managed to escape unharmed.”
He also shared a damaged vehicle image, remarking, “This is just a small part of the reality many Palestinians face in the West Bank amid rising settler violence.”
A CNN spokesperson did not provide any comments on the incident. There’s been a request for comment from the Israeli government.
In response to the American citizen’s death, high-ranking officials from the Trump administration in Israel have called for an investigation.
US Ambassador Mike Huckabee expressed his concern, stating, “I asked Israel to actively investigate the murder of Saif Musalat, an American citizen, who was visiting family when he was beaten.”
“The conduct of these criminals must be held accountable. Saif was only 20 years old,” he added.
The incident involving Diamond’s team highlights a troubling trend, as violence against journalists operating in the West Bank has reportedly increased.
The Foreign Publishing Association (FPA), which represents numerous media professionals in the region, condemned the attack, noting that it was the second such incident involving foreign journalists in Singil this month.
They pointed out a previous attack on a German news team where stones were thrown at their vehicle, causing damage.
The FPA emphasized that such incidents reflect a broader pattern of hostility journalists face, especially Palestinians, who routinely encounter threats and violence from settlers and security forces, while foreign media are often vilified by officials.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) had raised alarms days earlier about increasing violence against both Palestinian and international journalists by Israeli settlers and security forces.
One alarming report detailed the severe beating of Palestinian journalist Isamu al-Limawi. Another incident involved warning shots fired by soldiers near a marked press vehicle.
Israeli forces have also restricted access for journalists in areas like refugee camps in the West Bank, exacerbating the challenges they face in reporting on Palestinian life. The FPA urges Israeli authorities to uphold press freedom by ensuring journalist safety and prosecuting those who commit acts of violence against them.
Access to Gaza remains heavily limited, with international journalists barred from entering the area. In June, over 200 news organizations called for unrestricted access for foreign journalists in Gaza.
