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An Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker has been held by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank, according to activists.

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.

The activist group said 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.

“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.

Hamdan Ballal is detained in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Pic: Raviv Rose via AP
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Hamdan Ballal is detained in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Pic: Raviv Rose via AP

During the incident, around 10-20 masked settlers reportedly attacked Jewish activists 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, video provided by the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence showed.

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.”

Hamdan Ballal with fellow No Other Land filmmakers after their Academy Award success. Pic: AP
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(L-R) Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham with their Oscars. Pic: AP

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.

Read more from Sky News:
What happened to Israel-Hamas ceasefire?

West Bank areas ‘turning into mini-Gaza’

Hundreds 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.

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Member of Kneecap charged with terror offence

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Member of Kneecap charged with terror offence

A member of Irish-language rap group Kneecap has been charged with a terror offence.

Liam O’Hanna, or Liam Og O Hannaidh, has been charged with displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation, the Metropolitan Police said.

The 27-year-old from Belfast – who performs under the stage name Mo Chara – is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18 June.

It comes after counter-terror police assessed a video reported to be from a Kneecap concert.

The charge relates to a flag that O’Hanna allegedly displayed at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, on 21 November last year.

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Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command were made aware of a video circulating online on 22 April, the force said.

An investigation led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge.

Kneecap are due to headline Wide Awake Festival in south London on Friday.

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Chris Brown released on bail – but must pay £5m security fee

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Chris Brown released on bail - but must pay £5m security fee

US singer Chris Brown has been released on bail by a judge in London – and must pay a £5m security fee to the court.

The 36-year-old was granted bail at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, but did not appear in person.

Brown had been remanded in custody by a judge in Manchester on Friday until 13 June.

He faces a charge of grievous bodily harm following an incident at a London nightclub in 2023.

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Cassie’s mum describes Diddy’s sex tape threats – as ‘The Punisher’ gives testimony

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Cassie's mum describes Diddy's sex tape threats - as 'The Punisher' gives testimony

The mother of Cassie Ventura has told a court she felt “physically sick” when her daughter told her Sean “Diddy” Combs had threatened to “release two explicit sex tapes” after discovering his long-time girlfriend was dating someone else.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, the seventh day of the trial, Regina Ventura said she did not initially understand the email Cassie sent her in December 2011, saying, “The sex tape threw me, [Diddy] was trying to hurt my daughter.”

The email said Combs was planning to release two explicit videos of her and send someone to hurt her and the man she was seeing, rapper Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi.

Regina said the family took out a home equity loan and paid Diddy $20,000 to recoup money he had spent on Cassie “because he demanded it,” angry that Cassie was now dating Cudi.

She said the money was returned days later.

During her evidence, jurors were shown photographs of bruises on Cassie’s body Ms Ventura said were taken when her daughter returned home for Christmas in 2011.

Regina’s time on the stand was fairly brief, as the defence declined the opportunity to question her.

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Cast member Scott Mescudi, A.K.A. Kid Cudi, attends the global premiere of the television miniseries "Knuckles" at Leicester Square, in London, Britain, April 16, 2024. REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
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Scott Mescudi, aka Kid Cudi, who dated Cassie in 2011. Pic: Reuters

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: Day 7 – As it happened

Prosecutors say Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, forced women to take part in days-long, drug-fuelled sexual performances known as “Freak Offs” from 2004 to 2024, facilitated by his large retinue of staff. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty.

The rapper faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Musician Sean Coombs and Cassie Ventura arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala 2015 celebrating the opening of "China: Through the Looking Glass," in Manhattan, New York May 4, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
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Combs and Cassie pictured in 2015. Pic: Reuters

Last week, the prosecutors’ star witness, Cassie Ventura, who dated Combs for over a decade, spent four days giving evidence.

Combs’s legal team has sought to show jurors that his relationship with Ventura was complicated, and while they acknowledge he was an abusive partner, and had substance issues, they say the sex acts described by the prosecution were consensual.

Read more:
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The rise and fall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

‘Diddy wanted our bodies to shine’

A male exotic dancer nicknamed “The Punisher” also gave testimony, telling jurors that in the autumn of 2012, Cassie contacted him asking him to “create a sexy, erotic scene” Diddy, and using the pseudonym “Janet”.

Male exotic dancer Sharay Hayes, arrives at the Federal courthouse to testify in the Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial at U.S. court in Manhattan, in New York City, U.S., May 20, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
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Male exotic dancer Sharay Hayes, aka The Punisher. Pic: Reuters

Sharay Hayes said he went on to have eight to 12 more encounters with the couple, having sex with Cassie, while Diddy watched from a distance.

He described the hotel rooms as routinely being dressed with electric candles and sheet-covered furniture, and says Cassie told him not to “acknowledge” her husband, and to “try not to look at him and no communication”.

He says Diddy would often wear a cap, and he could not see his face, but he later realised it was the famous rapper.

“The Punisher” mentioned using a “considerable amount of baby oil” during the performances, saying “[Diddy] wanted us to keep our bodies covered, to shine”.

He later described the acts as “a fetish type thing,” and while he said he believed Cassie was fully consensual, he also said he “did occasionally see her sigh or wince” and said she would frequently look at Diddy “for cues”.

Paid between $1,200 (£900) and $2,000 (£1.500) for each performance, he said he was not called back after struggling to get an erection during one encounter.

He said he never saw Diddy use drugs or saw filming during any of the performances.

Car park dispute with Suge Knight

David James, Diddy’s ex-personal assistant, also completed his evidence and testified that he never saw physical violence between Cassie and his former boss.

David James, a former assistant for Sean “Diddy” Combs, exits after testifying at the Federal courthouse to testify in the Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial at U.S. court in Manhattan, in New York City, U.S., May 20, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
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David James, Combs’s former assistant. Pic: Reuters

James, who worked for Diddy for two years, said he left Diddy’s employment after he realised his “life was in danger” following a dispute in a car park with rival record label owner Suge Knight, which culminated in Diddy bringing three handguns to try to find Knight and his entourage.

He also detailed an altercation between Diddy and his personal chef, Jourdan Atkinson, and said he refused to file a police report after Diddy told him to say “Chef Jourdan hit him first”.

The final person to give evidence was a special agent responsible for planning the March 2024 raids on Combs’s Miami home on Star Island.

Steve Gannon showed photos of items taken during the raid, including sex toys, high heels and loaded guns, and explained how an armoured vehicle was used to break down the mansion’s front gate to gain entry while the family was away on a trip.

Combs has been held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since September and faces at least 15 years or possibly life in prison if convicted.

The trial is set to last for around two months.

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