**Oscar-Winning Palestinian Detained Amid Rising Tensions**

Hamdan Ballal, co-director of an acclaimed documentary, finds himself at the center of escalating conflict in Susya.

In a troubling incident, Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian Oscar-winning filmmaker, has been detained in the occupied West Bank amid escalating tensions between Israeli settlers and Palestinians. Ballal, one of the co-directors of the award-winning documentary "No Other Land," was reportedly surrounded at his home in Susya during a violent clash on Monday, as documented by five Jewish American activists present at the scene.

According to co-director Yuval Abraham, Ballal was allegedly beaten and taken away by soldiers while in an ambulance, a claim that Israel's military has not confirmed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that three Palestinians and one Israeli national had been arrested in connection with "rock hurling" at security forces, without specifically naming Ballal.

The activists observed that approximately a dozen masked settlers initiated a violent attack around 6 PM local time, which escalated into them breaking car windows and physically assaulting the activists as they attempted to document the events. Abraham reported injuries and property damage occurring during the confrontation.

After complaints from the activists, IDF soldiers reportedly intervened, leading to a temporary withdrawal by the settlers. The IDF confirmed that their forces, along with Israeli police, were dispatched to diffuse the situation, citing that rocks were thrown towards them, prompting the detention of the suspects involved.

The acclaimed film "No Other Land" not only won the Best Documentary Feature at the 97th Academy Awards but also highlights the struggles surrounding Masafer Yatta, encompassing around 20 villages. The ongoing occupation of the West Bank, which has persisted since 1967, remains contentious, with international law deeming the settlements illegal—a status Israel disputes. Since the resurgence of conflict following the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, incidents involving settler violence against Palestinian communities have markedly increased.