Israeli Settlers Attack "No Other Land" Co-Director Hamdan Ballal in West Bank, Followed by Military Detention

 

Israeli Settlers Attack "No Other Land" Co-Director Hamdan Ballal in West Bank, Followed by Military Detention

On Monday, March 24, 2025, Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was brutally assaulted by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank village of Susiya before being detained by the Israeli military, according to fellow directors and eyewitnesses. The incident, occurring just weeks after the film’s celebrated Academy Award win, has reignited debates about settler violence and military responses in the region.

Ballal was among three Palestinians detained during the clash, as confirmed by attorney Lea Tsemel, who told reporters that police informed her the group is being held at a military base for medical treatment. Tsemel noted she has been unable to contact them, leaving their condition and exact whereabouts uncertain as of March 25, 2025.

Basel Adra, another co-director of No Other Land and a witness to the detention, described a chaotic scene: approximately two dozen settlers—some masked, some armed, and others in Israeli uniforms—stormed Susiya. “Soldiers arrived and aimed their weapons at us while settlers kept throwing stones,” Adra recounted to The Associated Press. He suggested the attack might be retaliatory, saying, “Since we returned from the Oscars, it’s been daily assaults. This feels like punishment for the film.”

The Israeli military offered a contrasting narrative, claiming it detained three Palestinians, including Ballal, for allegedly throwing rocks at security forces during a “violent confrontation” between Israelis and Palestinians. An Israeli civilian was also detained, and one was evacuated for medical care. However, witnesses interviewed by the AP disputed this, asserting that settlers initiated the violence.

A Film Under Fire

No Other Land, a joint Palestinian-Israeli production, won the 2025 Oscar for Best Documentary, spotlighting the struggles of Masafer Yatta residents against Israeli military demolitions. Directed by Ballal and Adra—both from the region—alongside Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the film has garnered international acclaim since its debut at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival. Yet, it has also faced backlash, notably in Israel, where officials have criticized it, and in Miami Beach, where a mayor proposed terminating a theater’s lease for screening it.

The attack unfolded shortly after Susiya residents broke their Ramadan fast on March 24. Adra reported that a settler, known for frequent aggression, approached Ballal’s home with military accompaniment. Soldiers fired into the air as settlers closed in. Ballal’s wife heard him cry out, “I’m dying,” amid the beating, Adra said. He later saw soldiers escort Ballal—handcuffed, blindfolded, and bloodied—into a military vehicle. Blood stains remained outside Ballal’s door, a detail corroborated by an anonymous eyewitness fearing reprisal.

Escalating Violence

The assault wasn’t isolated. Josh Kimelman, an activist with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, reported that 10-20 masked settlers armed with stones and sticks attacked both Palestinians and activists, smashing car windows and slashing tires. Video evidence from the group captured a settler assaulting two activists in a field at night, with rocks audibly striking their retreating vehicle.

The West Bank, captured by Israel in 1967 alongside Gaza and East Jerusalem, remains a flashpoint. Palestinians seek these territories for a future state, but over 500,000 Israeli settlers now live in more than 100 settlements, complicating peace prospects. In Masafer Yatta, designated a military training zone in the 1980s, roughly 1,000 residents face ongoing threats of expulsion as soldiers demolish homes and infrastructure. Since the Gaza war intensified, settler attacks and military operations have surged, with hundreds of Palestinians killed in the West Bank and a rise in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

A Broader Context

As of March 25, 2025, Ballal’s fate remains unclear, with his detention underscoring the tensions No Other Land seeks to expose. Adra’s words to the News reflect a grim resolve: “This might be their revenge, but it won’t stop us.” The incident, set against the film’s global recognition, highlights the volatile intersection of art, activism, and conflict in the region—a story far from its final frame.