In a distressing display of violence and oppression, Palestinian freelance photojournalist Saif Kwasmi was attacked and injured by a mob of Israeli settlers during the Jerusalem Day flag march. The incident raises serious concerns about the treatment of Palestinians under apartheid-like conditions in the region.

The attack took place on June 5, 2024, as Kwasmi was covering the annual Jerusalem Day march in which Israeli settlers flood the streets of Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem. According to witness accounts, a group of around a hundred Israeli boys, with ten specifically targeting Kwasmi, surrounded and assaulted him. They beat him, threw objects at him, and attempted to snatch his cell phone. Fortunately, Kwasmi's injuries were minor and did not require immediate medical treatment.

Shockingly, Israeli police officers present at the scene did not intervene until they noticed that an Israeli journalist, Nir Hasson, was also being attacked. Kwasmi revealed that even a police officer joined in the assault before detaining him. The police later accused Kwasmi of inciting violence, a charge he vehemently denies. Disturbingly, none of the members of the settler mob have been arrested, as reported by Ha'aretz.

Kwasmi, who had clearly identified himself as a journalist by wearing his press vest and presenting his press card, was arrested and taken to a side street. He protested his arrest and informed the officer of his profession, but was dismissed. Eventually, the police escorted Kwasmi and other journalists outside the Old City and placed them in a designated area.

To further exacerbate the situation, later in the day, Kwasmi was interrogated for an hour and a half by the police. They questioned his journalistic credentials, claiming he did not have permission from Israeli authorities to work as a journalist. Additionally, his equipment was confiscated based on a tip from an Israeli extremist activist who accused him of being affiliated with Hamas. These actions highlight the harsh measures imposed on Palestinian journalists and the suppression of their reporting.

Ha'aretz journalist Nir Hasson, who intervened to protect Kwasmi and other journalists, stated that settlers specifically targeted members of the press during the march to prevent coverage of the event. Hasson shared that the police did not effectively intervene to stop the attackers but instead gathered the journalists away from the settlers, hindering their ability to document what was happening to the local residents.

Critics have condemned the attack on Kwasmi, using his arrest as an example of how Israeli apartheid systematically criminalizes Palestinians and subjects them to violence. The incident also highlights the ongoing struggle faced by Palestinian journalists in reporting on events that impact their communities.

This is not the first time that Kwasmi has faced mistreatment while carrying out his journalistic duties. In April of this year, he was detained, beaten, and arrested while reporting at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Passover. Once again, he was questioned and accused of incitement before being banned from the holy site for a week.

The incident involving Kwasmi has sparked outrage on social media, with photographs of him surrounded by the mob circulating widely. Observers have expressed horror, emphasizing how the arrest of Kwasmi symbolizes the cyclical pattern of violence and blame imposed on Palestinians living in the region.

As the international community continues to closely monitor the situation, it remains to be seen whether any action will be taken to address the mistreatment of Palestinian journalists and the general rights of Palestinians in relation to Israeli settler activity.