Movie fans brace yourselves this is some seriously upsetting news. Hamdan Ballal one of the directors behind the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land" was reportedly attacked by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. And if that was not bad enough after being hurt he was then detained by the Israeli military . Yep you read that right. Let's break down what happened.
Chaos in Susiya: Settlers Attack and Then the Army Steps In
According to reports from activist groups and witnesses the incident happened in a Palestinian village called Susiya located in the Masafer Yatta area. Apparently dozens of settlers descended on the village and started causing trouble. We are talking property destruction and violence.
Hamdan Ballal who co-directed "No Other Land" was there and unfortunately he became a target. Eyewitness accounts say settlers beat him up leaving him with a head injury that was bleeding. While he was getting medical help in an ambulance things took another dark turn. Soldiers showed up and instead of helping they detained Hamdan and another Palestinian man who was there.
A Jewish activist who was on the scene described the scary situation saying they don't know where Hamdan is because he was taken away blindfolded. This activist group the Center for Jewish Nonviolence also reported that masked settlers some 10 to 20 of them also attacked other activists who were present throwing stones sticks and even smashing car windows and tires. Video footage shows masked figures shoving and fighting with activists in a field with the sounds of rocks being hurled.
"No Other Land" - A Film About Struggle and Now Reality Hits Hard
If you're wondering why this is such a big deal beyond the obvious violence it's important to know about "No Other Land" . This documentary just won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. It's a powerful film that shines a light on the struggle of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta trying to protect their villages from being demolished by the Israeli military.
Hamdan Ballal is one of the four directors and he himself is from Masafer Yatta. The film is a joint effort a Palestinian-Israeli production co-directed by Basel Adra also Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor. "No Other Land" has been winning awards all over the place since it first premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2024. But it has also faced backlash especially in Israel with some even trying to shut down screenings of it.
Masafer Yatta: A Place Under Threat
Masafer Yatta the area where Susiya village and Hamdan Ballal are located is a really sensitive spot. The Israeli military declared it a live-fire training zone way back in the 1980s and have been trying to force the Palestinian residents out ever since. Around 1000 people mostly Bedouin Arabs live there and they are constantly facing demolitions of their homes water tanks and even olive trees. They are living in fear of being completely expelled from their land.
The West Bank where Masafer Yatta is located has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 war. Israeli settlements have been built there and settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has been on the rise especially during the recent conflict in Gaza. This attack on Hamdan Ballal and Susiya seems to be another example of this escalating situation.
Filmmaker's Plea and Growing Concern
Yuval Abraham Hamdan's Israeli co-director posted on social media about the attack calling it a "lynching" and expressing deep concern for Hamdan's safety after he was detained. Basel Adra another co-director also wrote about the settler attack describing it as "terror" and highlighting the difficult situation for Palestinians in Masafer Yatta who feel under constant threat while those attacking them often act with impunity.
The incident has sparked outrage and concern from film industry figures human rights activists and beyond. The safety and well-being of Hamdan Ballal are now a major worry. This attack brings the issues highlighted in "No Other Land" into stark and painful reality showing the dangers faced by Palestinians in the region and even those trying to document their stories.
Key Facts About the Attack on Hamdan Ballal:
- Who: Hamdan Ballal Palestinian co-director of Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land".
- What: Reportedly beaten by Israeli settlers and then detained by the Israeli military.
- Where: Palestinian village of Susiya in Masafer Yatta West Bank.
- Why: Appears to be part of escalating settler violence in the West Bank against Palestinians.
- Film Context: "No Other Land" documents the struggles of Masafer Yatta residents against village demolitions.
- Current Status: Hamdan Ballal's location after detention is currently unknown and there are concerns for his safety.