Masked men with sticks and stones: settlers attacked an NBC crew in Samaria
The network's crew was interviewing a Palestinian woman when, according to the report, at least four masked men exited a vehicle and beat them. The reporter, producer, and cameraman were injured and filming equipment was damaged. Eid: "We didn't expect them to come and attack - we were in the heart of a Palestinian area, near Palestinian homes."
Israeli settlers in masks attacked a Palestinian woman and members of an NBC News crew yesterday (Saturday) in the village of Jalud near Nablus, the network reported. The Palestinian woman and three members of the crew were injured, and filming equipment and one of their vehicles were damaged. The attack occurred after the crew interviewed 51-year-old Aida Ahmad Abdallah, who claimed that settlers had expelled her family from their home.
According to NBC, as the interviewee and the crew were walking down a hill toward the house, a gray car with Israeli license plates drove toward them. In footage of the incident, at least four masked men are seen exiting the car, one of them holding a stick. According to the report, they beat Abdallah and the crew members with sticks and threw stones at them.
"They jumped out, beat us, and then went back to the car," said NBC foreign correspondent Matt Bradley, who was hit twice in the arm and received treatment at a nearby clinic.
Producer Luahaz Jabari and cameraman Khaldoun Eid were also injured and received medical treatment. Abdallah was evacuated to the hospital by the Red Crescent. According to the IDF and the Border Police, her condition is not life-threatening. Jabari said she noticed a gun in the hands of the attackers, but according to her, it was not used.
"Suddenly a car arrived at us. The settlers had sticks. I saw a gun, but they didn't use it," she said.
Eid added: "We didn't expect them to come and attack. We were in the heart of a Palestinian area, near Palestinian homes."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the events and said that he strongly condemns the acts of violence committed by what he called a handful of people. "They are breaking the law, causing immense injustice to the law-abiding settler public, interfering with the IDF in the fulfillment of its missions, and harming Israel's status in the world," Netanyahu noted, adding that he expects law enforcement agencies to arrest those involved and bring them to justice as soon as possible, after three vehicles have already been confiscated in the field.
Security forces reported that upon their arrival in the area, they identified dozens of rioters who had barricaded themselves in a Palestinian house while residents were inside. The forces acted to remove them and separate the sides, and confiscated vehicles of suspects that were allegedly used to arrive at the scene. It was further reported that IDF and Border Police forces continue to operate in Jalud and Qusra to prevent further disturbances and restore order in the area.
