Armed Israeli settlers beat an AFP photographer with rifle butts in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday. About a dozen Israeli soldiers stood about 500 metres away and did not step in, witnesses said.

Jaafar Ashtiyeh, 58, a veteran AFP photographer, was covering settler attacks on Palestinian olive farmers near the village of Aqraba. He and fellow photographer John Wessels saw an Israeli soldier detaining a man as Palestinians picked olives.

A quad bike then raced toward the journalists. A man on it opened fire, and a Palestinian fell, shot in the foot, the Red Crescent said. At least six more men ran at the journalists, firing guns. Two men jumped on Ashtiyeh as he tried to reach a car marked “Press.” They beat him repeatedly and took his camera equipment.

Ashtiyeh was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Nablus. X-rays found no broken bones, his son said. He has bruises to his head and torso and will stay under observation.

AFP called the attack unacceptable and demanded a full investigation. The agency has asked the Israeli military for comment.

It came during a violent olive harvest season. Settler attacks on farmers are almost annual, AFP said.