On Tuesday, the Israeli police released Palestinian director Hamdan Bilal, an Oscar winner, following his detention for “stone-throwing.” Activists had reported that the filmmaker had been attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Late Tuesday, Bilal told AFP that the attack he faced was “very violent and intended to kill.” He added, “After winning the Oscar, I never thought I would face such attacks.”
Bassel Adra, who co-directed the film with Bilal, posted a picture of his colleague in the hospital after being released, with his clothes stained with blood.
Adra stated, “Hamdan was released and is currently in Hebron receiving treatment. He was beaten by soldiers and settlers,” adding, “The soldiers left him blindfolded and handcuffed.”
According to the Israeli army, three Palestinians were arrested on Monday for “stone-throwing” during a “violent confrontation” between Israelis and Palestinians in the village of Susiya in the southern West Bank.
On Tuesday morning, a police spokesperson confirmed to AFP that Bilal had been released.
Later, the police issued a statement saying that the three were “taken by the Israeli army to Israeli police for investigation on suspicion of stone-throwing, causing property damage, and endangering the security of the area.” They were released on bail.
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