The incident followed a controversial flag parade through the Old City in Jerusalem on Sunday.
“Last night, during a riot in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem that involved stoning, two suspects present at the scene assaulted with severe violence, allegedly beating with sticks, punching and punching. and pepper spray,” a journalist was present. and covered events “and” allegedly stole a mobile device in his possession”, the statement said.
“As a result of the assault, the journalist was injured and required medical treatment,” the statement added.
“We take violence of any form very seriously and especially against journalists carrying out their duties. We will continue to stand firm against violence and bullying, until perpetrators were involved in these acts,” the Israeli police said in the statement.
The assaulted journalist, Iyad Harab, worked with the Israeli news channel Kann News. The CNN team on the ground saw Harab lying on the street shortly after he was attacked, screaming about the pain in his eyes.
Harab later said in a video statement shared on Twitter that he was “sprayed with tear gas or tear gas” by “young Jews”. A Knesset member, Ahmad Tibi, shared Harab’s video statement about the incident.
“I came here after the end of the events at the Damascus Gate, after the march had passed… There was a clash here, and I came to film young Jews. After they saw me I was filming, they came and told me ‘don’ ‘t film.’ Then they attacked me. Someone came and sprayed pepper or tear gas at me, I don’t know exactly,” Harab said.
“I fell to the ground, couldn’t see. And, after I fell, they charged me with sticks, hit me in the head, in the back, in the leg. They knocked me down, and hit me again once. was there. on the ground. I want to emphasize that the police, I was screaming and shouting, and the police were on the spot and did nothing. They didn’t move a finger,” he added.
When asked to respond to Harab’s allegations, an Israeli police spokesman said in part, “Following the serious case, the police opened an investigation and as a result they arrested two suspects in the incident. briefly and the court ordered the police and extended their detention for several days.”
Video taken by CNN and others from the immediate aftermath shows Israeli officers offering to help Harab and trying to get him water.
Sheikh Jarrah is a neighborhood in East Jerusalem not far from the Old City that is often the focus of clashes between Israelis and Palestinians.
During Sunday’s flag march through the Old City, CNN’s team witnessed a number of violent encounters where Israeli nationalists attacked Palestinians and journalists – including including CNN employees – with pepper spray, as well as throwing sticks and bottles at reporters gathered to cover the march.
