Palestinian Documentary Director Attacked and Arrested by Israeli Forces in West Bank
On Tuesday, Hamdan Ballal, one of the four directors behind the Palestinian documentary 'No Other Land,' was released following a violent confrontation with a group of Israeli settlers in Susiya, located in the West Bank. This incident occurred on Monday, where Ballal was also arrested by the Israeli army, amidst ongoing tensions surrounding the territory claimed by the international community as belonging to the Palestinians but currently under illegal Israeli occupation.
The announcement of Ballal's release came from Yuval Abraham, another director of the documentary. This was supported by several journalists from the Associated Press who were at the scene. Reports indicate that Ballal sustained visible injuries, including bruises on his face and blood on his clothing, prompting his immediate transfer to a hospital in Hebron. Alongside him, two other Palestinians, detained at the same time, were also released.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Abraham revealed that Ballal had been subjected to cruel treatment, being handcuffed and blindfolded throughout the night as he encountered brutality from two soldiers while in a police station located in Kiryat Arba, south of Hebron.
Ballal, a resident of Susiya within the Masafer Yatta area featured prominently in the documentary, was targeted in the attack at his home, as reported by an activist associated with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence. The activist detailed that settlers had sought out Ballal and assaulted him, leaving him injured. Abraham later described the ordeal on social media as a lynching, noting that there had been a concerning absence of communication regarding Ballal's condition until his release.
This incident underscores the escalating violence and complex dynamics at play in the region, where settlers and Palestinians frequently clash amid the ongoing occupation. The attention surrounding Ballal's situation brings to light the challenges faced by those documenting the realities of life in the West Bank and the broader implications it has on human rights and media freedom in occupied territories.
Related Sources: