Footage shows ‘Israeli’ sniper pointing laser at journalists in Hebron

• The incident comes as ‘Israeli’ forces intensify raids, demolitions and movement restrictions across Hebron following a deadly shooting near a military checkpoint.
• The operation has displaced Palestinian families and drawn accusations of collective punishment from rights groups.

Footage shared by independent journalist Jasper Nathaniel on Sunday appears to show an ‘Israeli’ military sniper directing a laser at a vehicle carrying journalists in Hebron, raising concerns over the safety of media workers covering the escalating military operation in the occupied West Bank.

Nathaniel said the vehicle was clearly marked as a press vehicle when the sniper aimed the laser at it. The footage documents the encounter as journalists continue reporting from a city under sweeping military restrictions and amid an intensifying crackdown on Palestinian residents.

The incident comes as ‘Israeli’ forces conduct a major military operation across Hebron following a shooting attack near a military checkpoint on Friday, Oct. 23, in which two ‘Israeli’ soldiers were killed and three others wounded. The two Palestinian men suspected of carrying out the attack were also killed.

The military has launched raids and searches, detained Palestinians and demolished structures, while authorities have imposed severe restrictions on movement in Hebron and surrounding areas. ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a sweeping response, including house-to-house searches and demolitions in the neighbourhood where the suspected attackers lived.

The operation has also forced Palestinian families from their homes. Local authorities and media reports have documented widespread displacement in the city, while human rights groups have condemned the demolitions and expulsions as collective punishment.

The reported targeting of a clearly marked press vehicle adds to concerns over the risks faced by journalists documenting military operations and their impact on Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank.

History of ‘Israel’ targeting media workers

The incident comes amid longstanding concerns over the safety of journalists covering ‘Israeli’ military operations in the occupied Palestinian territories. Palestinian and international media workers have faced shootings, arrests, movement restrictions and attacks while documenting military raids and their impact on civilians. Press freedom organisations have repeatedly called for investigations into the deaths and injuries of journalists and urged authorities to ensure media workers can report safely. Under international humanitarian law, journalists engaged in professional duties in areas of armed conflict are generally considered civilians and must be protected as such, unless they directly participate in hostilities.

The scale of the problem is reflected in figures compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which said in September 2026 that its review found ‘Israeli’ forces responsible for by far the majority of journalist and media worker killings worldwide since October 2023. In a separate April report, CPJ documented killings, arbitrary detentions, assaults and restrictions on Palestinian journalists, including cases involving clearly marked press personnel. 

In Hebron, an IDF sniper casually aiming his laser at our car full of clearly marked journalists. https://t.co/APGKiZ8Jdr

— jasper nathaniel (@infinite_jaz) October 25, 2026