Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning film “No Other Land”, was assaulted by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and later taken by Israeli soldiers, according to witnesses and colleagues.
His co-director, Basel Adra, said Ballal had called him in distress before being detained. When Adra arrived at Ballal’s home in Susya, he saw Israeli settlers throwing stones and Israeli soldiers firing at those attempting to intervene.
The Israeli military claimed its forces responded to a “violent confrontation” between Palestinians and Israelis throwing rocks. It stated that three Palestinians and one Israeli were taken for questioning after Palestinians allegedly damaged Israeli vehicles.
Israeli filmmaker and co-director Yuval Abraham said Ballal suffered head and abdominal injuries and has not been heard from since.
Meanwhile, five American activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence (CJNV) reported being attacked by Israeli settlers wielding batons, knives, and an assault rifle. Dashcam footage shows masked settlers smashing car windows and throwing rocks.
Ballal, a Palestinian farmer, has faced previous threats from settlers trying to seize his land. His documentary No Other Land highlights Israeli efforts to evict Palestinian villages in Masafer Yatta, detailing home demolitions and settler violence.
Source: CNN
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
