Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning film “No Other Land” in the West Bank and subsequently detained him, as reported by witnesses. The filmmaker, Hamdan Ballal, along with two other Palestinians, was detained in Susiya village. Witnesses described the attack by around two dozen settlers, some armed and masked, who were confronted by soldiers while continuing to throw stones.
Basel Adra, another co-director, indicated that the attack on them may be retaliation for the film’s success at the Oscars, feeling like a form of punishment. The Israeli military claimed to have detained three Palestinians for allegedly throwing rocks at forces and one Israeli civilian involved in a violent confrontation, a claim disputed by witnesses. The detainees were transferred to Israeli police, and an Israeli citizen was evacuated for medical treatment.
“No Other Land,” the award-winning documentary, depicts the struggle of Masafer Yatta residents in the West Bank against Israeli military demolition of their villages. The film, a joint Palestinian-Israeli production, has garnered international recognition since its premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2024. Settlers reportedly infiltrated the village after residents broke their fast during Ramadan, leading to the assault on Ballal.
Witnesses described the distressing scene of Ballal being handcuffed and blindfolded before being taken away by soldiers. The violence also extended to activists, with masked settlers attacking them and vandalizing their vehicle to force them to leave the area. The ongoing conflict in the West Bank stems from territorial disputes, with Palestinians seeking a two-state solution while facing challenges from Israeli settlements.
Masafer Yatta, designated as a military training zone in the 1980s, has seen ongoing demolitions and expulsions, creating a constant threat to the residents. The situation underscores the complex and volatile nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with tensions escalating in the region.
