Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, before he was detained by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, according to eyewitnesses and his fellow directors.
Ballal was among three Palestinians arrested on Monday in Susiya, a village in Masafer Yatta, as confirmed by attorney Leah Tsemmel. She stated that Israeli police informed her the detainees were receiving medical treatment at a military base, but she had not been able to contact them.
Read more: ‘No Other Land’ Wins Oscar, Bringing Palestinian Struggle to Global Attention
Basel Adra, another co-director of No Other Land, reported that about two dozen masked and armed settlers stormed the village, damaging property. When Israeli soldiers arrived, they allegedly pointed their guns at Palestinians while settlers continued to hurl stones.
Filmmaker’s Arrest and Military Justification
Adra linked the attack to the documentary’s success, stating, “We returned from the Oscars, and since then, we have faced daily assaults. It feels like a punishment for making the film.”
The Israeli military claimed they had arrested three Palestinians suspected of throwing stones and detained an Israeli civilian involved in the violence. However, eyewitnesses contradicted this claim, reporting that settlers attacked the village while the military detained Palestinians. The army later transferred the detainees to Israeli police for questioning, while the Israeli civilian was taken for medical care.
Ballal’s arrest occurred shortly after residents broke their fast for Ramadan. Adra stated that a well-known settler, notorious for previous attacks on the village, approached Ballal’s home with Israeli soldiers. Gunshots were fired in the air, and Ballal’s wife reportedly heard him being beaten and screaming, “I’m dying.”
Adra later saw Ballal, handcuffed and blindfolded, being led away by soldiers. “His blood is still visible on the ground outside his house,” he said.
Escalating Settler Violence and International Concerns
A group of 10-20 masked settlers also attacked international activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, smashing car windows and slashing tires to force them to leave. Josh Kimelman, an activist at the scene, described how settlers threw stones and beat them with sticks.
Video footage from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence captured a masked settler attacking two activists in a field at night, with rocks hitting their vehicle.
Rising Tensions in Masafer Yatta
Masafer Yatta, located in the southern West Bank, was declared a live-fire training zone by the Israeli military in the 1980s, leading to eviction orders against its predominantly Arab Bedouin residents. Despite around 1,000 people remaining in the area, they frequently face home demolitions and military operations, increasing fears of forced displacement.
Since the start of the Gaza war, Israel has intensified military operations across the West Bank, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians. Meanwhile, settler violence has surged, as have Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
The Impact of No Other Land
The Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land highlights the struggle of Masafer Yatta’s residents against Israeli military demolitions. Co-directed by Palestinians Hamdan Ballal and Basel Adra, along with Israelis Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film has won multiple international awards, including the 2025 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Despite its critical acclaim, the film has sparked controversy, with some Israeli institutions opposing its screenings. In Miami Beach, local authorities even considered terminating the lease of a theater that showcased the documentary.
Ballal’s attack and subsequent detention have intensified concerns about press freedom, rising settler violence, and the role of Israeli forces in the West Bank.
