Hamdan Ballal, one of the Palestinian co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was attacked by Israeli settlers and later detained by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank, according to witnesses and activists.
The incident occurred on Monday in the village of Susiya, where settlers—some masked and armed—stormed the area and assaulted residents and activists. Co-director Basel Adra, who witnessed the attack, reported that Israeli soldiers arrived and pointed their weapons at Palestinians while settlers continued throwing stones. Adra believes the attacks are a form of retaliation for their film, which documents the struggles of Palestinian villagers against Israeli military-imposed demolitions.
Detention of Ballal and the Military’s Response
Hamdan Ballal was among three Palestinians detained by the Israeli military. According to attorney Lea Tsemel, they were taken to a military base for medical treatment, but she has been unable to contact them. The Israeli military claimed they arrested three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at forces, along with one Israeli civilian involved in the violence. Witnesses, however, dispute these allegations.
Violence Against Villagers and Activists
Adra described how settlers entered Susiya shortly after residents broke their Ramadan fast. A known settler, accompanied by soldiers, approached Ballal’s home, after which shots were fired into the air. Hamdan Ballal wife reportedly heard him screaming, “I’m dying,” as he was beaten. Shortly afterward, soldiers led him away, blindfolded and handcuffed, leaving bloodstains outside his house.
A group of 10 to 20 masked settlers also attacked activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, smashing their car windows and slashing their tires to force them to flee. Video footage shows a masked settler assaulting two activists in a dusty field at night as rocks thudded against their vehicle.
No Other Land and Its Impact
No Other Land, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary, highlights the struggle of Palestinian residents in Masafer Yatta, an area designated by Israel as a military training zone in the 1980s.The documentary has been shown all over the world, but it has also caused a lot of debate. In Miami Beach, someone even tried to get the theatre’s lease revoked after showing the film.
Violence in the West Bank is Getting Worse
Since the Israel-Hamas war started in 2023, there has been more bloodshed in the West Bank. Settlers are attacking Palestinian citizens more often, and the Israeli military is cracking down, killing hundreds of Palestinians. International law says that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal, and they have been growing for decades, making the strife in the area worse.
