Wed Mar 26 10:58:57 UTC 2025: ## Oscar-Winning Palestinian Filmmaker Attacked, Detained by Israeli Settlers
**Hebron, West Bank –** Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” was brutally attacked by Israeli settlers and subsequently detained by Israeli forces on Monday. The incident occurred in his West Bank village of Susiya, just weeks after the film’s Academy Award win.
According to reports, masked and armed Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli soldiers, stormed Susiya. They targeted Ballal, attacking his home and severely beating him before handing him over to the military. Ballal, who had just broken his Ramadan fast, was blindfolded and left injured on the floor of a Kiryat Arba police station overnight. He and two other Palestinians were released the following day.
Ballal, a Palestinian farmer, photographer, activist, and researcher, co-founded the Humans of Masafer Yatta project and volunteered as a field researcher for B’Tselem, documenting human rights abuses in the occupied territories. “No Other Land,” which he co-directed, details the struggles of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in Masafer Yatta. The film garnered numerous prestigious awards, including the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
His wife, Lamia Ballal, recounted hearing her husband scream, “I’m dying!” during the attack. Ballal’s lawyer, Lea Tsemel, stated that he was falsely accused of stone-throwing. While detained, he allegedly faced freezing conditions, denied medical care, and endured mockery from soldiers. His release followed international pressure.
The attack on Ballal has sparked outrage amongst human rights groups and international organizations, highlighting the ongoing tensions and violence in the occupied West Bank. The incident further underscores the challenges faced by Palestinians documenting human rights abuses under Israeli occupation.
First Piper 