‘They’d knives, batons, M-16’—Eyewitnesses describe brutal assault on Oscar-winning Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal

Eyewitnesses have described a brutal assault by Israeli settlers within the occupied West Financial institution village of Susiya, the place Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was overwhelmed and later detained by Israeli forces. Based on testimonies given to The Guardian, the attackers had been closely armed, with some carrying batons and knives, whereas one was seen holding an M-16 rifle.

Ballal was amongst three Palestinians detained within the village of Susiya, as confirmed by lawyer Leah Tsemmel. Police knowledgeable her that the detainees had been being held at a army base for medical therapy, however she had not been in a position to converse with them, as per AP report.

Settlers and troopers concerned within the assault

Basel Adra, one other co-director of No Different Land, who witnessed the occasions, acknowledged, as reported by AP, that roughly two dozen settlers—some masked, some armed, and a few in Israeli army uniform—entered the village and attacked residents. Troopers arriving on the scene reportedly pointed their weapons at Palestinians whereas settlers continued throwing stones.

“We got here again from the Oscars, and every single day since, there’s an assault on us,” Adra advised AP. “This may be their revenge on us for making the film. It appears like a punishment.”

The Israeli army, in an announcement, claimed it had detained three Palestinians suspected of throwing rocks at forces, together with one Israeli civilian concerned in what they described as a “violent confrontation.” Witnesses interviewed by AP disputed this declare, asserting that settlers initiated the violence.

Ballal’s spouse heard his cries

Adra recounted that the assault passed off shortly after residents had damaged their every day quick for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. A recognized settler, who Adra mentioned had often focused the village, approached Ballal’s dwelling accompanied by Israeli troopers. Troopers fired warning pictures into the air earlier than Ballal was taken.

Based on Adra, Ballal’s spouse heard her husband being overwhelmed exterior and screaming, “I am dying.” Shortly afterward, Adra noticed troopers main Ballal away, blindfolded and handcuffed, right into a army automobile. He advised AP that Ballal’s blood was nonetheless seen on the bottom exterior his dwelling.

One other eyewitness, who spoke on situation of anonymity out of concern of retaliation, corroborated components of Adra’s account.

Activists additionally focused within the assault

A bunch of 10-20 masked settlers additionally attacked activists from the Middle for Jewish Nonviolence, utilizing stones and sticks. Based on activist Josh Kimelman, settlers smashed automobile home windows and slashed tires to drive the activists away from the realm.

Video footage supplied by the Middle for Jewish Nonviolence exhibits a masked settler bodily assaulting two activists in a dusty area at night time. As rocks pelted their automobile, the activists had been seen dashing again to their automobile.

Background: No Different Land and its affect

No Different Land paperwork the battle of Masafer Yatta residents in opposition to Israeli army makes an attempt to demolish their villages. Ballal and Adra, each from Masafer Yatta, co-directed the movie with Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.

The movie No Different Land has gained a number of worldwide awards, starting with its recognition on the 2024 Berlin Worldwide Movie Pageant, and culminating in an Academy Award for Finest Documentary. Nevertheless, it has confronted backlash in Israel and internationally, with incidents equivalent to Miami Seashore metropolis officers proposing to finish the lease of a theater that screened the movie.