Rioters attacked two Israeli journalists during the riots at Sde Teiman on Monday afternoon.
Initially, Channel 12 reported that rioters attacked reporter Uri Isaac and the Channel 12 team at Sde Teiman detention facility Monday afternoon.
Isaac and his team were surrounded by demonstrators who cursed and pushed the team. According to footage, Otzma Yehudit MK Almog Cohen is seen defending Isaac from the rioters and urging them to stay away.
Reporter Uri Isaac said in an interview with Channel 12, “We arrived very close to the checkpoint, where the protesters had gathered. And there, they just started to come at us, shouting that we were Hamas, spitting, throwing water, and knocking over the cameras. I’m a reserve fighter, I spent five months in the Gaza Strip, risking my life. No one will come and tell me if I’m Hamas or not Hamas, or if I’m Zionist or not Zionist. It’s a disgrace and a shame.”
A reporter from Galatz was also insulted at the scene, according to a Ynet report.
Another journalist caught in the riot
Later however, it was discovered that another journalist, for Ynet and Yediot Ahronot, Ilana Curiel was also attacked during the riots while attempting to report on the incident.
Curiel wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “I am in tears. I’ve been spat on. Called a whore, traitor, My thrown was tossed. When I was only trying to do my job.”
She finished her post by stating “On the other hand, this does not surprise me.”טוב, אני בדמעות. ירקו עליי. קראו לי שרמוטה. בוגדת. העיפו לי את הטלפון. פעמיים. כשרק ניסיתי לעשות את העבודה שלי. ניסו לגנוב לי את הטלפון. קיללו אותי שוב ושוב. ערב רב. בוגדת. ומצד שני זה לא מפתיע אותי pic.twitter.com/4uAAyG1ICC
— ilana curiel (@ilanacuriel) July 29, 2024
According to Ynet’s report, Curiel explained that she had only come to do her job, “They tried to steal my phone. They cursed at me repeatedly: ‘Traitor. Go to Gaza.’ One of them was a protester with an Israeli flag,’ she shared.
Curiel further added, “Every time I raised my phone, they just pushed me and were violent. It was impossible to use the phone.” Curiel was evacuated by the police, according to the report on Ynet.
When Special Patrol Unit officers arrived at the nearby house to guard the gate, they were also able to rescue the journalists.
The journalists were not physically harmed according to reports.
Maariv contributed to this report.