Palestinian Filmmaker Hamdan Ballal Arrested by Israeli Forces After Settler Attack

Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, has been arrested by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank after reportedly being beaten and injured by Israeli settlers. His fellow co-director, Yuval Abraham, confirmed the incident on social media, stating that Ballal suffered injuries to his head and stomach and was bleeding when he was taken into custody.

“A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co-director of our film No Other Land,” Abraham wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “They beat him, and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. The army arrested him instead of the attackers.”

According to local reports, the attack took place in the South Hebron Hills, a region that has seen increasing violence from Israeli settlers against Palestinian residents. Ballal was reportedly filming or documenting events in the area when the settlers confronted him. Witnesses say he was assaulted before being detained by Israeli forces, while no action was taken against those responsible for the attack.

The arrest has sparked widespread outrage, with human rights activists, filmmakers, and international organizations condemning both the attack and the Israeli military’s handling of the situation. No Other Land, which won the Best Documentary award at the Berlin International Film Festival and later secured an Oscar, highlights the struggles of Palestinians living under occupation and the displacement they face.

Abraham, an Israeli journalist and filmmaker who co-directed the film with Ballal, emphasized that the attack and subsequent arrest exemplify the injustices depicted in their documentary. “This is exactly what our film is about,” he said. “A system that allows settlers to attack Palestinians with impunity while the victims are the ones who get arrested.” Calls for Ballal’s immediate release have been growing, with several prominent figures in the film industry and international human rights groups demanding action. The Israeli military has yet to provide an official statement on the arrest or the reported assault by settlers

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The incident comes amid escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, where settler attacks on Palestinians have increased in frequency and intensity. Human rights organizations, including the United Nations, have repeatedly raised concerns over what they describe as systematic impunity for Israeli settlers involved in violent assaults.
Ballal’s detention underscores the dangers faced by Palestinian journalists and filmmakers who document life under occupation. Advocacy groups warn that his arrest could be part of a broader effort to silence voices that bring global attention to the realities on the ground.

As pressure mounts for Ballal’s release, his supporters continue to call for accountability, urging international governments and organizations to intervene. The situation remains tense, with growing demands for justice amid fears that Ballal could face prolonged detention or further mistreatment while in custody.