Live Updates: Two Israeli police officers suspended after beating journalist

Saturday, December 16, 2023

05:00 GMT - Israeli police officers suspended

Israeli police have taken disciplinary action against two officers involved in the brutal assault on Mustafa Alkharouf, a photojournalist working for the Turkish Anadolu Agency.

According to Israeli media Channel 12, the officers have been suspended from "operational activity" following the incident. The assault occurred as Alkharouf was covering Friday prayers near the al Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.

Two Israeli Border Police officers attacked him, resulting in a violent altercation. The photojournalist was punched, thrown to the ground, and subjected to severe kicks to his head, leading to his hospitalisation.

In response to the incident, Israeli authorities have initiated the suspension of the officers involved.

03:30 GMT - Released Israeli hostages asks Netanyahu to stop attacks on Gaza

Hen Avigdori, whose daughter and husband were released in a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, said Friday it was not possible to save Israeli hostages and requested that the Israeli premier stop attacks against Gaza, according to local media reports.

The Maariv newspaper published a letter sent to Netanyahu by Avigd ori after the Israeli army announced it had accidentally killed three hostages in Gaza.

Avigdori wrote that there was no time or military means to rescue the hostages. The Israeli army announced Friday it "mistakenly" killed three Israeli hostages during fighting in Gaza.

03:01 GMT - Any hostile move against Yemen will have consequences - Houthis

Any hostile move against Yemen will have dire consequences and great costs, Ali al Qahoum, a member of the Houthi group's Ansarullah politburo, has told Lebanon's Al Mayadeen TV.

"The Houthis will not abandon the Palestinian cause, regardless of any US, Israeli, or Western threats," he said, adding that operations against Israel will continue.

Yemen is ready with all defensive options to respond to any American, Israeli or Western hostile moves, he said.

For our live updates from Friday, December 15, click here.