Israeli Police Interrogate Oscar-Winning Palestinian Director Amid Claims of Attack

Hamdan Ballal, an Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker, is under investigation by Israeli police after alleged assaults by masked settlers in the West Bank, raising concerns over escalating settler violence.

In a troubling incident that sheds light on the ongoing tensions in the West Bank, Israeli police interrogated Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian director famed for winning an Oscar for his documentary “No Other Land,” on Tuesday. Authorities confirmed the questioning after reports surfaced claiming that masked settlers attacked him in his home village of Susya.

The 37-year-old filmmaker was apprehended alongside two other Palestinians, under allegations of throwing stones at Israeli vehicles and injuring a settler. Ballal and his companions firmly deny these accusations through their lawyer, Leah Tsemel. A minor settler, involved in the confrontation, was detained briefly but later released for medical treatment, with further questioning expected down the line.

Witnesses, including local Palestinians and American activists present during the incident, recounted that Ballal was assaulted before his arrest. This violent episode is a concerning reflection of the increasing settler aggression in the region; reports indicate that over the past year, there have been more than 1,000 instances of violence attributed to Jewish extremists targeting Palestinians.

The situation has drawn renewed scrutiny, particularly with shifting political sentiments in the U.S. Former President Donald Trump has softened the approach towards settler violence, reversing sanctions that had been implemented by the Biden administration against those engaged in aggressive acts against Palestinians. On this same day, Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee—an advocate for settlement expansion—was having his confirmation hearings, further highlighting the political dynamics influencing these events.