DW Condemns Unacceptable Attack on Journalists in West Bank

August 29, 2025 – Palestine – 

Deutsche Welle (DW) Director-General Peter Limbourg has strongly condemned the “unacceptable” attack on DW journalists in the occupied West Bank, calling such hostility toward press representatives “absolutely unjustifiable.”

The targeted incident occurred in the village of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, where a DW correspondent and their cameraman—clearly identifiable by their press vests—were attacked by radical Israeli settlers. Stones were hurled, and they were chased in a violent assault on media freedom. Despite managing to escape unharmed, their vehicle sustained significant damage.

DW, alongside the German Journalists’ Association (DJV) and Germany’s ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, denounced the attack and called on the Israeli government to ensure journalists’ safety. DJV chair Mika Beuster demanded a thorough investigation and legal accountability, asserting that extremist settler violence against journalists must not go unpunished.

Limbourg emphasized that safeguarding press freedom is critical for democracy—and that the behavior of militant settlers poses a growing danger to journalists operating in the region.

While specifics about timing or the circumstances are limited, the Sinjil incident fits into a worrying pattern of increasing violence directed at journalists in occupied territories. These assaults not only endanger those reporting but also erode the foundational principle of media independence in conflict zones.

Limbourg’s emphatic condemnation reflects DW’s staunch commitment to press freedom, reinforcing that journalists must be able to work safely—even in the most volatile regions—without being subjected to intimidation, violence, or harassment.

Reference – 

https://www.dw.com/en/dw-chief-condemns-unacceptable-attack-on-journalists/a-73816316