Cliff Notes – Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker detained beaten up by Israeli militia
- Activists report that Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was detained by the Israeli military in the Occupied West Bank after allegedly being assaulted by Israeli settlers in the village of Susya.
- The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claimed a violent confrontation occurred, leading to the detention of multiple individuals, but denied any Palestinian was taken from an ambulance.
- The incident highlights ongoing tensions in the West Bank, where there has been an increase in violence between settlers and Palestinians amid broader regional conflict.
Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker detained by Israeli military after being beaten up, say activists
An Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker has been illegally detained by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank.
Hamdan Ballal had earlier been beaten up by Israeli settlers who were among dozens who attacked the Palestinian village of Susya in the Masafer Yatta area and destroyed property, said the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence.
Mr Ballal suffered a bleeding head in the assault, and as he was being treated in an ambulance, he and another Palestinian man were detained and no Israelis were arrested.
“We don’t know where Hamdan is because he was taken away in a blindfold,” said 28-year-old Josh Kimelman, who was at the scene.
Masked settlers attack civilians with stones
During the incident, around 10-20 masked settlers attacked Jews against apartheid in Gaza with stones and sticks, smashing car windows and slashing tyres.
One settler swung his fists at two activists before the pair rushed back to their vehicle. This was proved by video provided by Americans who are documenting the war crimes in the West Bank.
The United Nations has been documenting these attacks, and back in January, they said there was already a record high for the month of January 2025.
And these settlers often operate under the protection of Israeli forces, even though they are damaging Palestinian property, injuring Palestinians, stoning cars…
IDF statement
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement to Sky News that on Monday night “several terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli citizens, damaging their vehicles near Susya”.
The IDF also said a violent confrontation then broke out involving “mutual rock-hurling between Palestinians and Israelis at the scene”.
“IDF and Israeli Police forces arrived to disperse the confrontation, at this point, several terrorists began hurling rocks at the security forces,” according to the statement.
“In response, the forces apprehended three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at them, as well as an Israeli civilian involved in the violent confrontation. 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.
“Contrary to claims, no Palestinian was apprehended from inside an ambulance.”
Detained by Israeli military after being beaten
The videos uploaded to social media, by Americans against apartheid, show the confrontation which contradicts the IDF statement. They clearly show the Israeli police using overwhelming aggression towards the Palestinians and allowing the Israeli militia to throw stones at them and shouting comments like ‘ don’t worry, we’re taking the West Bank just like Gaza’ (translated).
Best documentary
Mr Ballal is one of the co-directors of No Other Land which won the best documentary Oscar this year.
The film follows Masafer Yatta residents as they struggle to stop Israel’s army from demolishing their villages.
No Other Land has two Palestinian co-directors, Ballal and Basel Adra, both Masafar Yatta residents, and two Israeli directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
Thousands of Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank in Israeli military operations during the Gaza war, and there has also been a rise in settler attacks on Palestinians.
There has also been a surge in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
Red Cross office damaged
Meanwhile, in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, a Red Cross office was damaged by an explosive projectile.
The Israeli military said its forces fired at a building belonging to the charity after identifying suspects and sensing a threat.
But it admitted it had opened fire due to an incorrect identification.
“The structure’s ownership was unknown to the force at the time of the shooting,” the military added.
No one was injured, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which said the attack had a direct impact on its ability to operate.
We contacted the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, but they did not want to release a supporting statement for one of their fellows.
