Oscar-Winning Filmmaker Hamdan Ballal Attacked and Arrested in the West Bank

Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was attacked and arrested in the West Bank on Monday night. The incident, which also involved two other Palestinian men, has drawn international attention due to Ballal’s recent Academy Award win. The attack reportedly occurred in his hometown of Susiya, where Israeli settlers allegedly assaulted him before his arrest by Israeli security forces.

Eyewitness Accounts of the Attack

Raviv Rose, a Jewish-American activist based in the region, recounted the violent events in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (THR). Rose works with the Jewish Center for Nonviolence, an organization that documents human rights abuses and provides support to affected communities.

According to Rose, after hearing of the attack, she and other activists rushed to Susiya. Upon arrival, they found Ballal and two other Palestinian men, Khaled Mohammad Shanran and Nasser Shreteh, restrained with zip ties and blindfolded before being taken away in an Israeli military vehicle. Rose described the scene: “There was a pool of his blood outside his front door.”

The Context of the Assault

Ballal was reportedly attacked after trying to protect his home and family from settlers who had begun throwing stones at houses, destroying personal property, and damaging a water tank and cars. Witnesses claim he was beaten in the head and stomach, causing him to bleed.

Rose and her group also faced violence from the settlers. “They started hitting us with sticks and batons from behind,” she said. “When we ran to our car, they began throwing stones, damaging it beyond repair.”

Israeli police treated the activists as suspects, asking for their passports and vehicle registration. They were told to file a complaint at the police station in the morning.

Ballal’s Release and Continuing Violence in Masafer Yatta

Ballal was later released, as confirmed by his Israeli co-director, Yuval Abraham, on Tuesday. However, Rose emphasized that such attacks are common in Masafer Yatta, where Palestinians face frequent violence and displacement.

“This case is getting attention because Hamdan has an Oscar,” she said, “but since the Oscars, there have been four similar attacks in the area. Every time we document them, file complaints, and spread awareness, but nothing changes.”

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) provided a different account of events, claiming that “terrorists threw stones at Israeli civilians, damaging their cars.” According to the IDF, both sides engaged in stone-throwing before security forces arrived. However, both sides agree that three Palestinians were arrested that night.

The Impact of No Other Land

No Other Land, directed by four filmmakers—two Israeli and two Palestinian—won Best Documentary Feature at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2024. The film documents the forced displacement of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta and the unlikely friendship between a Palestinian activist and an Israeli journalist.

Despite winning an Oscar, the film has yet to secure a U.S. distributor, limiting its exposure to American audiences. The attack on Ballal has now further amplified global awareness of the struggles faced by Palestinians in the region.

Conclusion

The attack on Hamdan Ballal underscores the ongoing tensions in Masafer Yatta and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While his Oscar win brought global recognition to the struggles of displaced Palestinians, it also highlights the continued violence they endure. As activists and human rights organizations call for accountability, Ballal’s ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those who document and resist oppression.

As the situation unfolds, the international community will be watching closely, especially in light of No Other Land’s powerful message about the realities of life in the occupied territories.