CNN Journalist Placed in Chokehold by Israeli Soldiers

CNN Crew Detained by Israeli Soldiers, Photojournalist Placed in Chokehold

Tayasir, West Bank — A tense encounter unfolded Thursday when Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers detained a CNN reporting team in the occupied West Bank, with one soldier placing the network's photojournalist in a chokehold and slamming him to the ground, according to footage and accounts from the journalists involved.

The incident occurred as correspondent Jeremy Diamond and his crew, including photojournalist Cyril Theophilos, were reporting on the aftermath of an alleged assault by Israeli settlers and the establishment of an illegal outpost near the Palestinian village of Tayasir. The team had been documenting rising tensions and settler violence in the area when soldiers intervened.

Video captured by the crew shows armed soldiers approaching, pointing weapons at the journalists, and ordering them to stop filming and sit down. "We're journalists. What are you doing?!" one crew member can be heard saying amid the confrontation.

Seventy-three seconds after the initial approach, according to Diamond's account, a soldier came up behind Theophilos from behind, applied a chokehold, forced him to the ground, and damaged his camera equipment. The crew was held for approximately two hours before being released.

The Foreign Press Association (FPA), which represents hundreds of journalists covering Israel and Palestine, strongly condemned the episode as a "violent assault." In a statement, the group highlighted the chokehold and physical takedown, describing the soldiers' actions as unprovoked during legitimate newsgathering.

CNN detailed the sequence in its reporting, with Diamond later appearing on air to describe the soldiers' reaction as "quite violent." He noted that tensions escalated rapidly after the crew arrived on scene to cover settler-related incidents that, according to local accounts, involved attacks on Palestinians in violation of Israeli law.

The IDF responded to the incident, stating that "the actions and behavior of the soldiers... are incompatible with what is expected of IDF soldiers operating in the Judea and Samaria area." The military indicated that the matter would be "thoroughly reviewed." Reports later emerged that the Netzah Yehuda battalion involved had been suspended pending investigation.

The event has drawn attention amid broader concerns over press freedom in the West Bank, where tensions between settlers, Palestinian residents, and security forces have intensified. Critics, including media watchdogs, have pointed to the episode as emblematic of challenges journalists face when covering sensitive stories in the region.

No injuries requiring medical attention beyond the camera damage were immediately reported for the CNN team, though Theophilos described being pushed and strangled. The crew maintained they posed no threat and were simply doing their jobs.

This incident adds to a series of reported confrontations involving journalists and Israeli forces in recent months, though details and context often vary by source. Both the IDF and press organizations have called for accountability and the protection of media personnel operating in conflict zones.

17GEN4.com