TAYASIR, WEST BANK — A CNN reporting team was violently detained and assaulted by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers on Thursday, March 26, 2026, while covering the aftermath of a settler attack in the northern West Bank village of Tayasir. The incident, which was caught on camera, has sparked international condemnation after a soldier was filmed putting a photojournalist in a chokehold and others expressed “revenge” motives for their actions.
The footage and first-person accounts were published by CNN on Friday, leading to an immediate investigation by the IDF’s highest levels of command.
The Assault and Detention
The CNN crew, including correspondent Jeremy Diamond and photojournalist Cyril Theophilos, were documenting the establishment of a new illegal settler outpost when they were confronted by soldiers.
- The Chokehold: Video shows a soldier approaching Cyril Theophilos from behind, placing him in a chokehold, and slamming him to the ground. The crew’s camera was damaged during the scuffle.
- Pointed Weapons: Soldiers were filmed pointing assault rifles directly at the journalists and Palestinian civilians, even after the crew repeatedly identified themselves as press in both English and Hebrew.
- Two-Hour Detention: The team was held for approximately two hours. During this time, soldiers confiscated passports and prevented the crew from filming the illegal outpost they were guarding.
“Avenging a Friend”: The Soldiers’ Motivation
The most alarming aspect of the encounter was the open admission by soldiers that their actions were personal and ideologically driven.
- Revenge for Yehuda Sherman: Two of the soldiers told the crew they were “avenging” the death of Yehuda Sherman, an 18-year-old settler killed in a suspected ramming attack near Nablus the previous week.
- Settler Ideology: A soldier identified as “Meir” told Jeremy Diamond, “We are here because it is our land… the Jews.” He acknowledged the outpost was illegal under current Israeli law but stated it would “slowly, slowly” become legal.
- Refusal of State Authority: When asked why they were taking matters into their own hands, one soldier replied, “If the state doesn’t address what they did… what do you expect us to do?”
Official Responses and Condemnation
The Foreign Press Association (FPA), representing hundreds of journalists in the region, labeled the incident a “violent assault on clearly identified journalists and a direct attack on press freedom.”
- IDF Chief of Staff: Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has ordered an immediate and thorough review of the incident, stating that the soldiers’ behavior “does not represent the IDF.”
- CENTCOM/International Pressure: The incident adds significant diplomatic pressure on Israel as it coordinates with the U.S. in the broader war against Iran. Critics argue the footage proves that some IDF units in the West Bank are operating as “vigilante militias” for the settler movement.
- Pattern of Hostility: This is the second high-profile assault on CNN personnel this month; a producer recently suffered a fractured wrist during an unprovoked attack by Israeli police in East Jerusalem.
What’s Next?
The findings of the IDF’s internal investigation are expected to be presented to the Central Command chief, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, within the next 48 hours. Human rights groups are calling for the immediate removal of the involved soldiers from active duty. As the April 6 deadline for regional peace talks approaches, the lack of discipline in the West Bank is becoming a major hurdle for the coalition’s attempts to maintain regional stability.
