Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal detained by Israeli military after being beaten up, say activists
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
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.”
(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.
Irish-language rap group Kneecap have announced a surprise London show, hours after one of their members was charged with a terror offence.
Liam O’Hanna, or Liam Og O Hannaidh, was charged with displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation, at a concert in London last November, the Metropolitan Police said on Wednesday.
Just hours later, Kneecap announced on their Instagram account that “we’re back”, adding that they would perform at the 100 Club on Oxford Street, London, on Thursday night.
The post also included a quote by former Sex Pistols vocalist John Lydon, who told ITV’s Good Morning Britain the rap trio “maybe (…) need a bloody good kneecapping” after footage of the band allegedly calling for the deaths of MPs emerged.
Kneecap performing in Belfast last year. Pic: PA
Kneecap apologised to the families of murdered MPs last month, but said footage of the incident at their concert had been “exploited and weaponised”, adding that they “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah.
The rappers had gigs cancelled after the footage emerged and politicians pushed for Kneecap to be dropped from the Glastonbury Festival line-up, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch calling for Kneecap to be banned.
The group from Belfast in Northern Ireland is still set to headline Wide Awake Festival in south London on Friday.
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In response to O’Hanna being charged, Kneecap said that they “deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves” and branded it “political policing” in a bid to “silence voices of compassion”.
The charge came after counter-terror police assessed a video said to be from a Kneecap concert.
In the footage, O’Hanna is allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, on 21 November last year.
Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command were made aware of a video circulating online on 22 April and an investigation led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising the charge, the force said.
O’Hanna – who performs under the stage name Mo Chara – is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18 June.
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