Palestinian Director Hamdan Ballal Released After Israeli Detention

• Mar 25, 2025

Oscar-winning Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal has been released from Israeli custody after being detained following an attack by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. Ballal, who recently won an Academy Award for his documentary No Other Land, said he was beaten outside his home while trying to film the assault.

Attack and Detention

The attack happened on Monday in Susiya, a West Bank village, as residents were breaking their fast during Ramadan. Witnesses say about two dozen settlers, some masked and armed, stormed the area and began throwing stones. Soldiers arrived but allegedly pointed their guns at Palestinians while the settlers continued their attack.

Ballal, along with two other Palestinians, was detained and taken to an Israeli military base. He described his time in custody as harsh, saying he was blindfolded for 24 hours and forced to sleep under a freezing air conditioner.

"I was freezing all night. I couldn't see anything, but I could hear soldiers laughing about me," he told The Associated Press after his release.

His lawyer, Lea Tsemel, said the detainees received minimal medical care for their injuries and were denied legal access for several hours. She also noted that they had been accused of throwing stones at a young settler, a charge they deny.

Family's Fear and Aftermath

Ballal's wife, Lamia, recalled the terrifying moments when her husband was attacked outside their home. Hiding inside with their three children, she heard him scream, "I'm dying!" and call for an ambulance.

"When I looked out the window, I saw three men in uniform beating him with their rifles while another man filmed it," she said.

On Tuesday, evidence of the violence remained. Bloodstains marked the ground outside their home, and the windshield of their car was shattered. Neighbors also pointed to a water tank with a hole they claimed was made by the settlers.

Rising Tensions and No Other Land

Ballal's film No Other Land highlights the struggle of Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta, where Israeli forces have long threatened to demolish villages. The documentary has received international recognition but has also faced backlash in Israel.

Co-director Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, said attacks from settlers and Israeli forces have increased since the film’s Oscar win.

"Nobody is stopping this. Soldiers are only helping the attacks," he said.

The war in Gaza has further escalated violence in the West Bank, with growing settler attacks and military crackdowns. Palestinians fear that Israeli forces, which have designated Masafer Yatta as a military training zone, may soon push them out completely.