Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian filmmaker and human rights activist, was attacked by Israeli settlers and subsequently detained by the Israeli military in the West Bank village of Susiya on March 24, 2025. Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘No Other Land,’ sustained injuries during the assault and was taken into custody while receiving medical treatment.
Hamdan Ballal Detained
Basel Adra, another co-director, witnessed the detention and told the Associated Press, said around two dozen Israeli settlers attacked the village. He said, “We came back from the Oscars and every day since there is an attack on us. This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.” Hamdan’s current whereabouts remain unknown. The military has disputed these claims and said that they have taken the people to Israeli police for questioning.
A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co director of our film no other land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.
— Yuval Abraham יובל אברהם (@yuval_abraham) March 24, 2025
About Hamdan Ballal
Hamdan Ballal co-directed, ‘No Other Land’ which won the Oscar this year for Best Documentary. The documentary chronicles the struggles of residents of the Masafer Yatta. Ballal and Adra made the joint Palestinian-Iranian production with Israeli directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.