Israel suspends battalion over attack on CNN journalists
dw.com • • world
Key Points:
- The Israeli military has suspended an entire reserve battalion following a violent clash with CNN journalists in the occupied West Bank, citing a "serious ethical and professional failure."
- The incident occurred during CNN's coverage of an attack by Israeli settlers and the establishment of an illegal outpost in the Palestinian village of Tayasir, where soldiers reportedly pointed rifles at the crew and physically assaulted a photojournalist.
- The Foreign Press Association condemned the actions as a direct attack on press freedom, highlighting the severity of the assault and detention of the journalists.
- IDF spokesman Nadav Shoshani apologized and stated the soldiers' conduct does not represent the military, with a formal inquiry launched and the battalion suspended as a deterrent measure.
- The suspension comes amid growing international criticism of the Israeli military's treatment of journalists, with Reporters Without Borders reporting nearly half of journalist deaths in 2025 linked to Israeli forces.
