French diplomat Marion Castaing was caught on video punching an Israeli soldier during a confrontation between IDF troops and European diplomats delivering aid to Palestinians, Israel Hayom reports:
On Friday, Israeli soldiers seized tents and emergency aid that European diplomats had been trying to deliver to Palestinians in Khirbet al-Makhul whose homes were demolished last week.
A Reuters reporter saw soldiers throw stun grenades at a group of diplomats, aid workers and locals, and pull a French diplomat, Marion Castaing, out of a truck before driving it away.
"EU representatives have already contacted the Israeli authorities to demand an explanation and expressed their concern at the incident," a statement issued by the spokesmen for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said on Saturday
Israel's Foreign Ministry issued a response on Sunday, saying, "Israel rejects the one-sided announcement which was published by the spokespersons of HR Ashton and Commissioner Georgieva regarding the events in the Northern Jordan Valley. This announcement ignores the European diplomats' blunt violation of the law, their disregard to a ruling of the Israeli court and their unnecessary provocation under the alleged pretext of humanitarian aid."
"Diplomats are sent by their governments to be a bridge and not act as provocateurs. The European diplomats and their governments owe an explanation to this blatant violation of diplomatic codes of conduct. Israel has already made it clear that it will not accept this misconduct. Israel's response will reflect the seriousness of these violations."
The IDF blog reported on a viral photo from the incident that appeared to show an Israeli police officer pointing a rifle at Castaing's face while she laid on the ground. The photo graphic below showed the misinformation spread by the dramatic picture.
It went on to discuss Castaing's punch, as well as a shot of a Palestinian child taunting an IDF soldier, and how and why that information had not spread widely instead:
How come you haven’t come across these two photos, also filmed at demonstrations and protests in Judea and Samaria? Footage is filmed, photos are captured, and in the end, only those inciting the most controversy make your papers’ headlines. Although it may be difficult to disprove what is visible, it is important to make note that Palestinians who wish to deliberately spread lies about Israel are playing with the images that are being made visible to you, often times circulating false or poorly photoshopped photographs.