BBC journalists dragged from car at gunpoint by Israeli forces

A group of BBC journalists were dragged from their car at gunpoint by Israeli security forces in Tel Aviv.

Members of BBC Arabic - Muhannad Tutunji, Haitham Abudiab and their team - were driving to a hotel when their car was intercepted.

According to the BBC, they were dragged from their vehicle, which was marked "TV" in red tape, before being searched and pushed up against a wall. Tutunji and Abudiab said they had identified themselves to the police as BBC journalists and showed their press cards.

Tutunji added that while attempting to film the incident, his phone was thrown on the ground and he was struck on the neck.

A BBC spokesperson said in response that journalists "must be able to report on the conflict in Israel-Gaza freely".

"One of our BBC News Arabic teams deployed in Tel Aviv, in a vehicle clearly marked as media, was stopped and assaulted last night by Israeli police. Journalists must be able to report on the conflict in Israel-Gaza freely."