Oscar-winning filmmaker Hamdan Ballal attacked by Israeli settlers

Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land co-director Hamdan Ballal was allegedly attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and later taken by Israeli soldiers, according to his colleague Yuval Abraham and eyewitnesses. Abraham stated that Ballal was injured, bleeding from his head, and inside an ambulance when soldiers forcibly removed him. Posting on X, Abraham wrote, Settlers lynched Hamdan Ballal, beating him in the head and stomach. Soldiers then invaded the ambulance and took him. No sign of him since.

Basel Adra, another co-director of No Other Land, told CNN he went to the West Bank village of Susya after Ballal’s distress call. He described Israeli settlers outside Ballal’s home throwing stones while soldiers fired at anyone who approached.

The Israeli military described the incident as a violent confrontation between Palestinians and Israelis throwing rocks at each other. It claimed the altercation began when terrorists attacked Israeli citizens, damaging vehicles. Three Palestinians and an Israeli were taken for questioning.

The alleged attack occurred three weeks after No Other Land won the Academy Award for Best Documentary. On stage, the film’s directors urged action against Gaza’s destruction.

The documentary portrays a Palestinian family’s displacement in the West Bank, highlighting the struggles of Palestinian journalist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, who formed an unlikely friendship while documenting the crisis.