Israeli Police Assault on Journalists During Ramadan Prayers

On March 21, 2026, Israeli police violently confronted a group of journalists outside the Old City of Jerusalem, resulting in injuries and equipment damage. The incident occurred as Muslim worshippers gathered to perform the Tarawih prayers during Ramadan, having been barred from entering the Al-Aqsa mosque due to wartime restrictions. As worshippers attempted to pray outside the Lion’s Gate, police intervened, forcibly dispersing the crowd and ultimately using stun grenades against them.

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Among those affected was CNN producer Abeer Salman, who suffered a fractured wrist when an officer in plain clothes forcibly grabbed her arm. The police also confiscated memory cards from journalists documenting the event and damaged their photographic equipment. Two journalists were detained during the altercation, and upon their release, they were met with further police hostility when they sought to check on their colleagues.

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Israeli police issued a statement claiming that the journalists were part of the disturbances and only identified themselves as press after being detained. This assertion was met with strong condemnation from the Union of Journalists in Israel, which labeled the police statement as “factually incorrect” and called for an internal investigation into the officers' actions. Nir Gontarz, a union member focused on violence against journalists, asserted that the attack was intentional, stating, “It was not a mistake. The police marked the journalists as targets, and attacked them.”

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The Foreign Press Association (FPA) also condemned the incident, calling it an “unprovoked assault” and urging the Israel Police to take action against the involved officers to protect press freedoms. CNN, in its response, demanded accountability for the assault, emphasizing that while journalists adhere to wartime regulations, such regulations do not justify police violence against them.

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The incident raises significant concerns regarding the treatment of journalists in conflict zones, particularly in Israel and Palestine. The actions of the police not only jeopardize the safety of reporters but also threaten the integrity of press freedom in the region. The ongoing tensions surrounding access to religious sites during periods of heightened conflict further complicate the landscape for journalists covering these events.

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While the police maintain that the journalists were part of the disturbances, the Union of Journalists and the FPA assert that the attack was unprovoked. There is a lack of independent verification of the police's claims, and no response has been received from the police regarding CNN's inquiries about the incident.

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• “Police officers attacked several journalists without provocation, including foreign press,” — Union of Journalists in Israel

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• “It wasn’t a by product, it wasn’t coincidental, it was an intentional attack on journalists.” — Nir Gontarz, Union of Journalists

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• “We demand an explanation and accountability for this unprovoked assault and are pursuing this matter with the relevant authorities.” — CNN Statement

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