Oscar-Winning Palestinian Filmmaker Attacked by Settlers and Arrested in West Bank

Hamdan Ballal, co-director of 'No Other Land,' was injured in an attack by masked settlers in Masafer Yatta before being detained by the Israeli army under unclear circumstances.

Hamdan Ballal was attacked by a group of approximately 15 armed settlers who vandalized his car, destroyed a water tank, and injured him at his home in Susya, Masafer Yatta.
Masked settlers reportedly roamed freely in the village during the attack, while soldiers instructed Palestinian residents to remain indoors.
Ballal was arrested by the Israeli army along with another man, identified as Nasser, with no explanation provided for the detentions.
This follows a February 2025 attack on Basel Adra, another co-director of 'No Other Land,' by masked settlers, highlighting ongoing risks faced by the filmmakers.
The documentary, which won the 2025 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, has drawn global attention to the forced displacement of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta while facing political backlash from Israeli officials.