Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, who recently won an Academy Award for co-directing the documentary No Other Land, has reportedly been detained in the occupied West Bank amid fresh violence involving Israeli settlers and Palestinians. The incident occurred in the village of Susya, where activists and eyewitnesses say Ballal’s home was surrounded by masked settlers before he was detained by Israeli forces.
The situation has drawn international concern, especially given Ballal’s rising global recognition following his Oscar win just weeks ago.
Key Highlights:
Attack in Susya: What Happened?
According to five Jewish American activists present at the scene, about a dozen masked Israeli settlers launched an assault on the Palestinian village of Susya around 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) on Monday. The settlers allegedly:
- Surrounded Ballal’s house
- Assaulted villagers and activists
- Smashed car windows
- Physically attacked observers with sticks and punches
The activists said they were there to document the settler violence and were themselves targeted during the incident.
Hamdan Ballal’s Detention and Disputed Claims
Yuval Abraham, Ballal’s Israeli co-director and fellow Oscar winner, reported that Ballal had been beaten and arrested by soldiers while inside an ambulance. However, this account has been contested by Israeli authorities.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not name Ballal specifically but confirmed that three Palestinians and one Israeli were detained on suspicion of rock hurling at security forces.
“The detainees were taken for further questioning by the Israel Police,” said the IDF in a statement. “An Israeli citizen was injured in the incident and was evacuated to receive medical treatment.”
Co-Director Yuval Abraham Speaks Out
Yuval Abraham, who co-directed No Other Land with Ballal, said multiple people were injured and properties were destroyed during the attack on the village.
“The military didn’t arrest the settlers,” Abraham told media. “Instead, they detained Ballal and two other Palestinians — even though they were the ones under attack.”
He emphasized that the military presence did eventually disperse the settlers, but not before serious damage had occurred.
About No Other Land and the Oscar Win
No Other Land, which recently won Best Documentary at the 97th Academy Awards, is an emotionally powerful chronicle of life in Masafer Yatta, a cluster of villages in the West Bank threatened by eviction and demolition under Israeli military orders.
The film explores the friendship between Ballal and Abraham, one Palestinian and one Israeli, as they document the realities of occupation and resistance. It has been widely praised for its raw storytelling and nuanced depiction of a deeply divided land.
Wider Context: Rising Violence in the West Bank
The incident in Susya is part of a broader surge in settler violence across the West Bank, particularly since the Israel-Hamas war escalated in 2023. Rights groups and international bodies have raised alarms over increasing attacks on Palestinian civilians by settlers, often under the protection or passive observation of Israeli forces.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. Its settlements in the territory are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this classification.
Hamdan Ballal’s Detention Raises Alarms
The detention of hamdan ballal, just weeks after being celebrated on the global stage for No Other Land, has cast a stark light on the ongoing tensions in the West Bank. As international pressure mounts and activists demand answers, Ballal’s arrest adds urgency to the conversation around human rights, freedom of expression, and the realities depicted in his Oscar-winning work.
His film may have won an Oscar, but his story—and the struggle it represents—is far from over.
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