Israel releases Palestinian Oscar winner after West Bank detention

AFP | Jerusalem

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Undefined Israeli police yesterday released Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, detained a day earlier for “hurling rocks” following what activists described as an attack by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Basel Adra, who worked with Ballal on the Oscar-winning documentary film “No Other Land”, posted on X a photo of him from a hospital after his release -- which police has also confirmed -- with blood stains on his shirt.

“Hamdan has been released and is currently in the hospital in Hebron receiving treatment. He was beaten by soldiers and settlers all over his body,” said Adra, adding that “soldiers left him blindfolded and handcuffed” overnight.

According to the Israeli military, three Palestinians were apprehended on Monday for “hurling rocks” during a “violent confrontation” between Israelis and Palestinians in the southern West Bank village of Susya.