Israeli Forces Reportedly Detain Co-Director of *No Other Land*

# Palestinian Filmmaker Hamdan Ballal Attacked and Detained in the Occupied West Bank

Palestinian filmmaker **Hamdan Ballal**, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary *No Other Land* (2024), was attacked by Israeli settlers and later detained by Israeli soldiers in the **Occupied West Bank** on **March 24, 2025**. His whereabouts remain unknown, according to his co-director Yuval Abraham.

## The Attack on Hamdan Ballal

Yuval Abraham, an Israeli journalist and co-star of *No Other Land*, reported the incident on social media, stating that Ballal was **”lynched” by a group of Israeli settlers** in his village, **Susiya**, located in the South Hebron Hills. Abraham explained that Ballal suffered injuries to his **head and stomach**.

When an **ambulance** arrived to provide medical attention to Ballal, **Israeli soldiers entered the vehicle and took him to an undisclosed location**. Since then, there has been no confirmed update on his condition or whereabouts.

Videos shared by Canadian activist **Anna Lipman**, and later reposted by Abraham, showed masked settlers attacking an individual while she sought refuge from the violence. Abraham added that settlers “continued to attack American activists, breaking their car with stones.”

## Context of Rising Violence

This attack follows *No Other Land’s* historic **Oscar win for Best Documentary Feature**, making it one of the most significant Palestinian-Israeli collaborative films to achieve global recognition. The film provides an in-depth look at **Israeli military oppression and settler violence** targeting Palestinians in the West Bank.

The past months have seen a **surge in violence** in the region, as Israeli settlers continue to **forcefully displace Palestinians, demolish homes, and escalate aggression**. *No Other Land* captured these realities in graphic detail, including footage of co-director **Basel Adra’s cousin being shot** by an armed Israeli in the **Masafer Yatta** area.

## Global Reactions and Calls for Action

Ballal’s disappearance comes amid **increased censorship and political backlash** against the documentary.

– In the **United States**, Miami Beach Mayor **Steven Meiner** attempted to **defund and evict** an independent cinema for screening *No Other Land*. However, **public pressure forced him to withdraw his proposal**.
– The **film lacks a distributor in the U.S.**, partly due to fears of political backlash.
– At the **Oscars**, Abraham and Adra used their acceptance speech to **call for an end to Israeli occupation and the war on Gaza**, urging action against what they described as **”ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”**

Numerous human rights groups and activists have expressed concerns about Ballal’s **safety and well-being.** The situation remains **fluid**, and international pressure may be crucial in ensuring his release.

## The Struggle for Justice Continues

*No Other Land* has become a **symbol of defiance** against human rights violations in Palestine. Many argue that the violent attack on Ballal is **a direct consequence of their film’s success and its global impact** in exposing occupation atrocities.

As of now, **calls for Ballal’s release are growing**, with advocates demanding transparency from Israeli authorities regarding his detention.

This is a **developing story**, and further updates will be provided as new information emerges.