After winning an Oscar for the eye-opening documentary on Israel’s atrocities against Palestine, No Other Land co-director Hamdan Ballal has been attacked and abducted by Israeli settlers.
The incident, which took place in Susya, in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron, has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for his immediate release.
Hamdan Ballal, whose documentary No Other Land recently won Best Documentary at the Oscars for its harrowing portrayal of the destruction of Palestinian villages in the West Bank, was reportedly surrounded by a group of about 15 armed settlers on Monday night.
According to five Jewish American activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence who witnessed the attack, the settlers began throwing stones at Palestinians and destroyed a water tank near Ballal’s house.
“They started throwing stones towards Palestinians and destroyed a water tank near Hamdan’s house,” said Joseph, one of the activists, who requested anonymity for security reasons.
The situation escalated when settlers destroyed Ballal’s car, slashing its tires and shattering all the windows and windshields. Witnesses reported that settlers dressed in military uniforms, alongside Israeli soldiers, chased Ballal to his house, where he was beaten and handed over to the military.
“His car was completely destroyed, and there was blood on the floor inside his house,” said Raviv, another witness. Family members confirmed that Ballal was hit on the head during the attack.
Ballal, injured and in need of medical attention, was reportedly pulled from an ambulance by Israeli soldiers and taken into custody. According to his co-director Yuval Abraham, Ballal has not been seen since. Abraham shared videos of the attack on X (formerly Twitter), calling attention to the brutality of the settlers and the complicity of the Israeli military.
Basel Adra, another co-director of No Other Land, also confirmed Ballal’s disappearance, stating that all attempts to locate him have failed. Israeli Knesset member Ofer Cassif echoed these concerns, saying, “Under the tyrannical occupation, even the Oscar can’t protect you from harm.”
The news of Ballal’s attack and arrest has sent shockwaves across social media, with users expressing their anger and disbelief. Many drew sharp contrasts between Ballal’s recent Oscar win and the violence he has now endured.
“Filmmakers will not be silenced,” wrote one user, highlighting the bravery of Ballal’s work. Others condemned the Academy Awards for its silence on the matter, with some pointing out the lack of response from Western media and celebrities.
Tom Morello, guitarist of Rage Against the Machine, was one of the few public figures to immediately comment, sharing his support for Ballal and condemning the attack.
What is anyone going to do about it ? Nothing 😆
Good . Don’t care what happens to him.
Face it dear. You can’t do Anything about it