Oscar-Winning Palestinian Filmmaker Beaten, Detained by Israeli Forces After Settler Attack

Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was attacked by Jewish settlers outside his home in the West Bank and later detained by Israeli forces. He was held overnight, blindfolded, and subjected to harsh conditions before being released with visible injuries. His lawyer denied Israeli claims that he threw stones at a settler. The attack occurred as settlers stormed Susiya village during Ramadan, with Israeli soldiers allegedly aiding them. Ballal’s wife and children heard him screaming for help as he was beaten.

His documentary, No Other Land, highlights Palestinian struggles and has faced backlash despite international recognition. Since its Oscar win, settler attacks have increased. Jewish activists in the area have also been targeted. Israel continues settlement expansion in the West Bank, keeping 3 million Palestinians under military rule. The war in Gaza has intensified violence across the region.

Oscar-Winning Palestinian Filmmaker Beaten, Detained by Israeli Forces After Settler Attack

Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal, renowned for his Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, has been released after his arrest by Israeli forces. Ballal was reportedly beaten by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank while filming near his home.

Arrest and Harsh Treatment

Ballal and two other Palestinians were detained overnight at an Israeli military base before being released from a police station in Kiryat Arba. Upon his release, he bore visible injuries, including bruises, bloodstains, and wounds from the attack. He described his detention as inhumane, saying he was blindfolded for 24 hours, forced to endure freezing temperatures, and mocked by soldiers. His lawyer, Lea Tsemel, accused authorities of denying him medical care and blocking her from seeing him for hours. She dismissed allegations that Ballal had thrown stones at settlers, calling them fabricated accusations.

Settler Violence in Susiya Village

The incident began when around 20 masked and armed settlers raided the village of Susiya during Ramadan. According to Palestinian residents, the settlers hurled stones as families gathered to break their fast. When Israeli soldiers arrived, they allegedly pointed their guns at Palestinians rather than intervening against the settlers, allowing the attack to continue. The Israeli military confirmed detaining three Palestinians and one settler but provided no further details.

Family Witnesses Brutal Attack

Ballal’s wife, Lamia, recalled hearing him scream, “I’m dying!” during the assault. She saw three uniformed men beating him with rifle butts, while another individual recorded the attack. Lamia believes the violence was retaliation for Ballal’s Oscar win, which brought international attention to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land. After the attack, the family found their car windows shattered and their water tank damaged, allegedly by settlers.

Documentary Exposes Palestinian Life Under Occupation

Ballal’s film, No Other Land, documents the struggles of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, a region where Israel regularly demolishes homes and forcibly displaces families. The area has been designated a military training zone, putting over 1,000 residents at risk of eviction. Although the film has gained global acclaim, it has also faced censorship attempts in Israel.

Basel Adra, a co-director of the documentary, reported that settler attacks have intensified since the film’s Oscar victory. He accused Israeli soldiers of enabling settler violence rather than preventing it. “The army doesn’t stop these attacks—they facilitate them,” Adra said.

Rise in Settler Violence

Jewish activists advocating for Palestinian rights have also been targeted. Josh Kimelman, an activist, described how masked settlers vandalized cars belonging to volunteers assisting Palestinian communities. Tires were slashed, windows smashed, and equipment destroyed in a pattern of escalating violence.

Background: Occupation and Rising Tensions

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, constructing settlements that are widely considered illegal under international law. More than 500,000 Israeli settlers now live there, while 3 million Palestinians remain under military rule with limited rights. In Masafer Yatta, home demolitions and land confiscations have surged, leaving families in constant fear of forced displacement.

Since the Israel-Gaza war began in October 2023, violence in the West Bank has escalated. Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces, along with increased settler attacks, have become more frequent. Human rights groups accuse Israel of failing to curb settler violence and rarely holding perpetrators accountable.

Ballal’s ordeal highlights the ongoing dangers faced by Palestinians—including those who document their reality—under Israeli occupation. His release has drawn renewed attention to the wider struggle for justice, where daily life remains shaped by displacement, violence, and oppression.