Hamdan Ballal is one of four filmmakers who directed No Other Land, about the disputed West Bank, which won the Oscar for best documentary feature film earlier this month
A spokesperson for Channel 4 expressed deep concern over reports that Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, whose documentary aired on the network, was attacked by Israeli settlers and detained.
Ballal co-directed the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, which explores the disputed West Bank. According to eyewitnesses, including two fellow directors, he was beaten by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank before being detained by the Israeli military.
The Channel 4 spokesperson stated: “We are deeply disturbed by reports that Hamdan Ballal, the co-director of Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, which aired on Channel 4, has been injured while being attacked by settlers in the West Bank, and that he has been subsequently detained by Israeli authorities.
“Ballal is a remarkably brave filmmaker who has spent several years chronicling the treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank by settlers and the Israeli military.” The spokesperson urged the Israeli authorities to ensure Ballal’s safety.
Equity’s General Secretary, Paul W Fleming, called on the UK Foreign Office to “urgently inquire about Hamdan’s circumstances and press for his immediate and safe release.
“The attack on Hamdan demonstrates again the devastating impact that the violent conflict and surrounding occupation is having upon the lives of artists and creatives in the region. Artistic expression remains a critical tool for oppressed peoples everywhere and must be protected,” he expressed.
Basel Adra, the co-director, revealed that he saw the arrest first-hand, witnessing soldiers escort Ballal from his home into a military vehicle, handcuffed and blindfolded.
He reported that settlers infiltrated the village on Monday evening, just after the locals had broken their daily Ramadan fast.
“We returned from the Oscars and every day since, we’ve been attacked. This could be their retaliation for us making the film. It feels like a punishment,” Adra shared with the Associated Press.
Ballal was among three Palestinians apprehended in the village of Susiya, as per Lea Tsemel, the lawyer representing them.
She was informed by the police that they were being held at a military base for medical treatment, but she confessed on Tuesday that she had no further updates on their location and hadn’t been able to communicate with them.
The Israeli military stated it had detained three Palestinians suspected of throwing stones at forces and one Israeli civilian involved in a “violent confrontation” between Israelis and Palestinians – a claim disputed by witnesses interviewed by the AP.
The Palestinians had been handed over to Israeli police for interrogation, according to the military.
During the war in Gaza, Israel has killed hundreds of Palestinians in the West Bank through extensive military operations, and there has also been a rise in settler attacks on Palestinians, as well as a surge in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
On February 28, Channel 4 revealed that it would broadcast the UK network premiere of the documentary, which aired on Tuesday, March 4.
The Foreign Office has been contacted for a response.
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