In a shocking incident caught live on CNN's Turkish affiliate, Israeli soldiers violently assaulted Palestinian photojournalist Mustafa Alkharouf in occupied East Jerusalem on Friday. The assault, condemned by the head of the International Federation of Journalists, highlights the ongoing targeting of journalists in the region.

The footage shows Israeli soldiers aggressively shoving and battering Alkharouf as he tried to cover the scene where Palestinians had gathered near the Al-Aqsa Mosque to pray. The incident took place amidst tight restrictions on prayer at the Muslim holy site during Israel's recent bombardment and invasion of the Gaza Strip.

At one point, an Israeli soldier appeared ready to shoot Alkharouf with his assault rifle, but instead, he used the gun to strike him in the face. Another soldier threw Alkharouf to the ground, while a third kicked him repeatedly in the head and torso.

Haaretz journalist Nir Hasson reported that an Israeli officer had instructed Alkharouf and other journalists to move away from a certain location. However, when they tried to comply, they were blocked by another officer, leading to the assault. Cameraman Faiz Abu Ramila, accompanying Alkharouf, was also attacked by the Israeli soldiers.

Anthony Bellanger, the secretary-general of the International Federation of Journalists, swiftly condemned the violent assault as "violent and aggressive." Efforts are underway to coordinate assistance for Alkharouf, who has been hospitalized as a result of the attack.

Sadly, Alkharouf is only one among many journalists targeted by Israeli forces since October 7. Non-profit organization Reporters Without Borders lodged a complaint with the International Criminal Court, accusing Israeli forces of committing war crimes against Palestinian reporters.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that at least 63 journalists and media workers have been killed in the occupied Palestinian territories, Israel, and Lebanon since early October. Palestinian journalists account for the majority of this distressing death toll. CPJ is also investigating several unconfirmed reports of other journalists being killed, missing, detained, hurt, or threatened, as well as incidents of damage to media offices and journalists' homes.

Further escalating the situation, Al Jazeera journalists Wael al-Dahdouh and Samer Abu Daqqa were wounded in an alleged Israeli strike on a school in Khan Younis, southern Gaza's largest city.

Reporters Without Borders strongly condemned these ongoing attacks on journalists and called for their protection. With an increasing number of media workers being targeted in the region, the incident involving Alkharouf serves as a stark reminder of the importance of press freedom and safety for journalists reporting on conflicts and unrest.