Israel: Police Target Journalists at Al-Aqsa

Last updated: 2 October 2026

On March 17, 2026, at least three journalists covering events near Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque were physically assaulted by Israeli police — with two detained and one suffering a fractured arm requiring medical treatment. The Committee to Protect Journalists, reporting from Amman on March 19, described the incident as emblematic of a pattern of systematic restrictions on journalism in Jerusalem since Israeli authorities closed Al-Aqsa under emergency measures during the ongoing Iran war.

What Happened Outside Al-Aqsa

Freelance journalist Faiz Abu Rmeleh and a photojournalist for Chinese state-funded outlet Xinhua were physically attacked by police after beginning to film worshippers attempting to gather near the mosque compound — the third holiest site in Islam. CNN journalist Abeer Salman, who attempted to intervene verbally while identifying herself as press, said an officer grabbed her arm and fractured it.

Abu Rmeleh told CPJ that more than 15 officers attacked him after he tried to stop the beating of the Xinhua journalist. His camera was damaged and police confiscated the memory cards from his equipment. When he attempted to retrieve them, he was assaulted again. AFP photojournalist John Wessels, present at the scene but unharmed, said he too repeatedly told police the people being beaten were journalists — and was ignored.

This attack is the latest in a pattern of restrictions on journalists in Jerusalem, where many reporters have been prevented from documenting events in and around Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli authorities must end the use of violence against journalists on assignment who are clearly identifying themselves as press.

Sara Qudah, CPJ Regional Director

Police Version Contradicted by Video Evidence

Israeli police claimed in a statement that the journalists "were part of an unlawful gathering," "refused to comply with police orders," and "did not identify themselves as journalists" until after being detained. However, Israel's own Haaretz newspaper reported that the Union of Journalists in Israel told them the claim was "completely false" — saying "video footage clearly shows that officers knew very well they were journalists, yet continued to assault them."

Press Freedom in Jerusalem Under the Iran War

Since Israeli authorities imposed emergency measures in Jerusalem following the outbreak of war with Iran, access restrictions for journalists have multiplied significantly. Al-Aqsa Mosque has been closed to worshippers, and reporters attempting to document protests or gatherings near the site have repeatedly been turned away, beaten, or detained. CPJ says it has documented multiple such incidents in recent weeks.

What Our Experts Say

Assaulting journalists, confiscating their footage, and then claiming they never identified themselves — this is not a mistake, it is a method. When press freedom disappears around a holy site during a war, the world loses its ability to know what is happening there.

Senior Human Rights Expert, The Human Rights