Susya, West Bank – Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, known for co-directing the Academy Award-winning film “No Other Land,” has been arrested by the Israeli military following a violent incident involving masked settlers at his residence in the West Bank.
Ballal’s arrest occurred shortly after several armed settlers allegedly attacked his home in the Susya village, located in the Masafer Yatta region. According to multiple eyewitness accounts, the group of approximately fifteen individuals targeted Ballal’s property, throwing stones and causing significant damage.
During the conflict, settlers reportedly vandalized Ballal’s vehicle and destroyed a nearby water tank. According to Joseph, a witness affiliated with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, the settlers initially focused on damaging property before physically assaulting Ballal.
The situation further escalated with the arrival of Israeli soldiers, who, according to witnesses, pursued Ballal into his home and subsequently detained him along with another local man, identified only as Nasser. Reports from the scene described a scene of chaos, with damage visible on Ballal’s property and personal injuries sustained by those involved.
Eyewitnesses reported that Ballal had visible head injuries following the altercation. He was taken into custody under unclear circumstances and transported away from the scene. The exact reasons for his arrest have not been made public, and IDF officials have referred to the incident vaguely as involving a “violent confrontation.”
The arrest has drawn connections to Ballal’s recent success with “No Other Land,” which documents the struggles of Palestinian communities in the face of Israeli settlements. Basel Adra, a fellow co-director, suggested that the attack could be seen as a retaliation linked to the film’s international recognition and its critical portrayal of the local settlers’ actions.
Addition by Yuval Abraham, another co-director, expressed outrage over the assault, revealing the extent of Ballal’s injuries and criticizing the response by Israeli forces. According to Abraham, the military’s involvement did little to protect Ballal during the attack.
This incident marks another in a series of violent episodes affecting filmmakers associated with “No Other Land.” Previously, director Basel Adra faced similar aggression from settlers. Additionally, Adra has repeatedly highlighted ongoing threats against Palestinians in the area, underscoring a broader pattern of hostility linked to the expanding Israeli settlements.
Criticism of “No Other Land” and its portrayal of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict reached governmental levels, with Israel’s culture minister publicly condemning the film’s academy award. The minister described the Oscar recognition as regrettable, pointing to the film’s contentious narrative amidst ongoing cultural and political debates.
The international community’s reaction to the incident and its implications for Israeli-Palestinian relations remains to be seen, as industry and human rights observers continue to monitor the unfolding situation. The detainment of Ballal and its ties to cultural expression highlight the deep-seated tensions that persist in one of the world’s most prominent conflict zones.