Oscar winning Palestinian director assaulted, detained by Israeli army

Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal, who won Oscar for ‘No Other Land’ about three weeks ago, was detained by Israeli military in the occupied West Bank, his fellow co-director Basel Adra and other witnesses confirmed.

Hamdan Ballal was one of three Palestinians detained in the village of Susiya, according to attorney Leah Tsemmel.

Police told her they’re being held at a military base for medical treatment and she said she hasn’t been able to speak with them.

Basel Adra, who also witnessed the detention, said that around two dozen settlers – some masked, some carrying guns, some in Israeli uniforms – attacked the village.

“We came back from the Oscars and every day since there is an attack on us. This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment,” Adra told The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it detained three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at forces and one Israeli civilian involved in a “violent confrontation” between Israelis and Palestinians.

According to Israeli military, the suspects were transferred to Israeli police for questioning and had evacuated an Israeli citizen from the area to receive medical treatment.

“No Other Land”, which won the Oscar this year for best documentary, chronicles the struggle by residents of the Masafer Yatta area to stop the Israeli military from demolishing their villages.

Ballal and Adra, both from Masafar Yatta, made the joint Palestinian-Israeli production with Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.

Adra said the settlers entered the village on Monday evening, shortly after residents broke the daily fast for the Muslim holy month of Ramzan.