Oscar-winning Palestinian director attacked and detained in West Bank

• A Palestinian film director, known for the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” was reportedly attacked by Israeli settlers at his West Bank home on Monday. Hamdan Ballal was detained by the Israeli military along with two other Palestinians and one Israeli.
• Five Americans with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence were also there and said they were assaulted as well.
• They said the attack came after a dispute involving an Israeli settler who was shepherding near a Palestinian home.

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Award-winning Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal was detained by the Israeli army after a group of masked settlers attacked his house in the occupied West Bank Monday, March 24.

Who is Hamdan Ballal?

Hamdan Ballal is one of four directors, all of whom are Israeli or Palestinian, known for the Oscar award-winning documentary “No Other Land.” The film chronicles the destruction of villages in the West Bank.

Israel’s culture minister previously called the joint Palestinian-Israeli documentary’s win “a sad moment for the world of cinema.”

What happened?

Ballal’s co-director Basel Adra told CNN that Ballal called him to his home in the West Bank village of Susya on Monday, distressed. Adra said when he got there, Israeli military members were taking away Ballal and at least one other person.

Five American activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence were also at the scene.

The activists said more than a dozen Israeli settlers also assaulted them. They said many of them were using batons, knives and at least one assault weapon.

According to the activists, the incident came after a dispute involving an Israeli settler who was shepherding near a Palestinian home.

Israeli security forces said three Palestinians and an Israeli were then taken in for questioning. The security forces said they took the three in after “several terrorists” threw rocks at security members.

Ballal’s lawyer, Lea Tsemel, said police told her they’re being held at a military base for medical treatment.

What led up to this?

Throughout the war in Gaza, which started when the militant group Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank in wide-scale military operations.

There has also been a rise in settler attacks on Palestinians, as well as Palestinian attacks on Israelis there.