Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray rejected a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office that described the assault as an "alleged" and "disputed" incident with unclear facts. "Our photographer was clearly marked as Press. She was clearly beaten. These are not partisan or risible statements, but indisputable," Murray said, urging a thorough investigation and accountability while the newspaper condemned the beating as "an outrageous and unwarranted attack."
Netanyahu's office previously claimed that about 200 Arabs and activists had confronted 40 Israeli youths and that video showed an unidentified individual helping Levine up after knocking her down. A team of New York Times journalists witnessed the attack, and eyewitnesses including Nathaniel alleged that Israeli soldiers provided cover for the settlers with tear gas and machine guns before shooting a Palestinian bystander and shoving paramedics. The Israel Defense Forces condemned violence against civilians and said police and forensic investigators would enter the area to collect evidence, adding that troops had used riot dispersal means and fired at a suspect carrying a sharp object at another location.