Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, has been arrested by Israeli forces after a violent attack by masked settlers at his home in the occupied West Bank. The assault, which took place in Susya, was witnessed by Jewish American activists.
Eyewitnesses reported that a group of armed settlers stormed Ballal’s home, throwing stones and destroying property, including his car. Shortly after, Israeli soldiers arrived, chasing Ballal into his house before arresting him. Another Palestinian man, identified as Nasser, was also detained. The reason for their arrests remains unclear.
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Ballal’s co-director, Basel Adra, believes the attack is linked to the growing recognition of their documentary, which exposes the forced displacement of Palestinians. Adra, who witnessed the attack, stated that settlers and soldiers worked together, preventing anyone from helping Ballal as he was beaten and taken away.
The incident has sparked outrage, with Israeli filmmaker Yuval Abraham condemning Ballal’s arrest, stating that he was bleeding from head and stomach injuries when soldiers detained him. Meanwhile, settler violence in Masafer Yatta continues to escalate, raising concerns over the safety of Palestinian residents.
