In a shocking and disturbing turn of events, Hamdan Ballal, the Oscar-winning Palestinian director of the film “No Other Land”, was attacked by armed Israeli settlers in the West Bank and subsequently handed over to the Israeli military, according to eyewitnesses.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from the international community, with many calling for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ballal’s arrest.

Ballal, who won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for his film “No Other Land”, has been an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights and has used his platform to shed light on the struggles faced by the Palestinian people.

According to witnesses, Ballal was attacked by a group of armed Israeli settlers while he was filming in the West Bank. The settlers allegedly beat him and damaged his equipment before handing him over to the Israeli military, who then took him into custody.

The Israeli military has released a statement claiming that Ballal was arrested for “inciting violence” and “disturbing the peace”, but eyewitnesses dispute this account, saying that Ballal was simply filming a documentary and did not engage in any provocative behavior.

The incident has sparked a wave of solidarity with Ballal and the Palestinian people, with many taking to social media to condemn the attack and call for Ballal’s release. The hashtag #FreeHamdanBallal has been trending on Twitter, with many prominent filmmakers and artists expressing their support for the detained director.

The attack on Ballal is just the latest example of the growing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank. The region has seen a surge in violence in recent months, with many Palestinians accusing Israeli settlers of carrying out attacks on their communities.

The international community has called for calm and restraint in the wake of the incident, with many urging the Israeli government to take steps to protect the rights of Palestinian civilians and to hold those responsible for the attack accountable.

As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the attack on Hamdan Ballal is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by the Palestinian people and the need for greater international support and solidarity.