26/03/2025 (Agence Europe) – The EU Delegation to the Palestinians said, on the evening of Tuesday 25 March, that it was “appalled by the settler attack, injury, and arrest” of the Oscar-winning film director Hamdan Ballal (see EUROPE 13607/17). “This alarming incident is part of a growing pattern of pressure on artists, threatening freedom of expression”, it said on X. According to the Delegation, this event also highlights “the ongoing issue of settler violence in the West Bank, where perpetrators are consistently not held accountable by Israeli authorities”. Arrested on Monday, 24 March, Mr Ballal was released on Tuesday evening. (CG)