Shorouk Express
The IDF denied apprehending any Palestinian from inside an ambulance.
The incident occurred as dozens of Israeli settlers stormed the Palestinian village of Susiya in the southern West Bank, an area that features in Ballal’s documentary, activist group Center for Jewish Nonviolence told the Associated Press. The group added that soldiers blindfolded Ballal and took him away.
Ballal “has since disappeared and it is unclear whether he is receiving medical treatment or what is happening to him,” Abraham added.
A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces told POLITICO that “several terrorists” threw rocks at Israeli citizens, then a scuffle involving “mutual rock-hurling between Palestinians and Israelis at the scene” ensued, after which the IDF and Israeli police forces arrived.
“The forces apprehended three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at them, as well as an Israeli civilian involved in the violent confrontation,” said an IDF spokesperson. “The detainees were taken for further questioning by the Israel Police. An Israeli citizen was injured in the incident and was evacuated to receive medical treatment.”
Abraham posted a video to X showing several masked assailants, some carrying sticks, running and throwing rocks under the cover of darkness. Another video shared by Abraham shows a man in a mask shoving and throwing punches at activists.
Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, a longtime critic of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, expressed “dismay” at the reports that Ballal had been “lynched” and called for “maximum diplomatic and economic sanctions” on Israel in a post on X.
This article has been updated to include a statement from the IDF.
