A Palestinian filmmaker who recently won an Oscar has reportedly been assaulted by Israeli settlers and subsequently detained by Israeli military forces, according to accounts from activists present during the incident.
Hamdan Ballal, known for co-directing the award-winning documentary No Other Land, experienced a troubling episode at his home in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Activists assert that his residence was surrounded by settlers during an attack that took place on Monday. Following the assault, Ballal was reportedly beaten by the settlers and then apprehended by soldiers while being transported in an ambulance. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) disputed this claim, stating that no Palestinian was taken from an ambulance. Fortunately, co-director Yuval Abraham informed that Ballal was released later that afternoon.
Details of the attack and subsequent detainment
According to the IDF, three Palestinians and one Israeli were detained amid accusations of “rock hurling” directed at security forces during the incident. A group of five activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence (CJNV), who had arrived to document the incident, stated that they too fell victim to the aggression of the settlers, with their vehicle being vandalized and themselves physically attacked.
One activist at the scene relayed to the BBC that the three detained Palestinians, including Ballal, sustained injuries during the assault and were subsequently taken to an Israeli police station in the West Bank for questioning. They are suspected of having thrown stones and injuring a young Israeli shepherd in the process. The activist confirmed that the detained individuals were allowed access to legal representation.
The incident began around 18:00 (16:00 GMT) on Monday, when a group of approximately twelve masked settlers launched an assault in the village of Susya, surrounding Ballal’s home. Yuval Abraham, who also won an Oscar this month with Ballal, noted that the assault led to injuries and property damage.
Response from Israeli forces and ongoing tensions
During the attack, activists reported that they alerted Israeli soldiers to the violence occurring, but the soldiers initially observed the situation without intervening. They only approached the scene after the attack on the activists’ vehicle had subsided. According to the activists, the military declined to pursue the settlers, enabling them to continue their attacks on properties in the vicinity.
The IDF confirmed that their soldiers and police arrived to disperse the confrontation, stating that rocks had indeed been “hurled” at the security personnel. In their statement, the IDF mentioned that three Palestinians suspected of throwing rocks, along with an Israeli civilian involved in the violence, were taken for further questioning by the Israel Police. One Israeli citizen was reported injured and required medical assistance.
“The detainees were taken for further questioning by the Israel Police. An Israeli citizen was injured in the incident and was evacuated to receive medical treatment.”
No Other Land, which recently won the Academy Award for Best Documentary at the 97th Oscars, explores the conflicts surrounding Masafer Yatta, a community comprising approximately twenty villages, and the personal stories of its residents, particularly focusing on the bond between Adra and Abraham.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the region is regarded as illegal under international law, a point that Israel contests. These settlements have become a significant source of violence and clashes regarding land ownership.
As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues into 2023, there has been a notable increase in settler violence against Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank.