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RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Palestinian photojournalist Moheeb Al-Barghouthi was beaten by Israeli soldiers Friday covering a demonstration in the Nabi Saleh village near Ramallah.

Al-Barghouthi, who works for the official Palestinian Authority newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, suffered head injuries and sustained bruises across his body in the attack.

He said soldiers destroyed his camera and confiscated some of his equipment.

The journalist said the soldiers accused him of "misrepresenting" the image of Israeli forces. They left him bleeding and handcuffed on the ground in intense heat for several hours, he added.

Al-Barghouthi was treated at hospital in Ramallah for light injuries.

Israel's military responded in a statement that "the Palestinian in question was detained for violating a closed military area order. The man was questioned and released an hour later."

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the attack and expressed "grave concern" for the welfare of Palestinian media workers.