Susya, West Bank — Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, notably one of the directors of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” was arrested by Israeli forces following a violent incident involving masked settlers at his residence in the occupied West Bank region. According to eyewitness accounts, approximately fifteen settlers entered Ballal’s home in Susya, a village in the Masafer Yatta area, where rampant destruction of Palestinian communities has been documented by Ballal in recent times.
During the assault, eyewitnesses revealed that the settlers resorted to throwing stones and vandalizing property. Joseph, a Jewish American activist from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, reported that they began by targeting Palestinian homes generally before specifically demolishing a water tank near Ballal’s residence. Further damage involved desecrating his car and breaking windows and windshields, as another witness, Raviv, described to the media.
The situation escalated with the arrival of Israeli soldiers accompanying settlers dressed in military gear. Reports indicate that the soldiers actively pursued Ballal into his home, where he was subsequently handed over to the army. Family members later discovered traces of blood in Ballal’s house and confirmed that he sustained head injuries from the attack. Along with Ballal, another individual identified as Nasser was also detained, although the reasons for their arrest remain murky.
An Israeli Defense Forces’ statement portrayed the incident as a response to “terrorists” pelting rocks at Israeli citizens, claiming their security forces intervened to control a “violent confrontation.” However, Basel Adra, a co-director of the documentary with Ballal, believes the arrest might be connected to the film’s international acclaim, suggesting that the attack could be a form of retaliation against their critical portrayal of settler activities in the region.
Adra, who witnessed the assault, described the scene as a horrifying amalgamation of military and settler aggression. The involvement of both groups in intimidating Palestinians and damaging property, while police allegedly stood by, reflects growing tensions in the area.
Adding to the distress, Yuval Abraham, another Israeli co-director of “No Other Land,” expressed his outrage over social media, detailing the severity of Ballal’s injuries and the disturbing actions of the soldiers who allegedly hindered medical assistance by intercepting an ambulance called for Ballal.
This brutality isn’t isolated as previous incidents highlight ongoing violence toward the filmmakers. Earlier this year Basel Adra faced similar threats by masked settlers. Furthermore, just days before Ballal’s arrest, Adra detailed continuous settler aggression in Masafer Yatta on social media.
The attack occurs against a backdrop of intensifying settler violence in the West Bank, especially in areas like Masafer Yatta that face the threat of demolition and forced eviction of Palestinian residents by Israeli authorities. It starkly contrasts the joint efforts of Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers documenting the plight of Palestinians in the region through their cinematic works.
Meanwhile, Israel’s culture minister Miki Zohar criticized “No Other Land’s” Oscar accomplishment, reflecting a broader discord within segments of Israeli society concerning the film’s content and impact on international perceptions. As global attention now turns towards the plight of Ballal and the ongoing tensions in Susya, the incident underscores the complex and fraught relations in the West Bank, spotlighting the urgent need for resolution and dialogue amidst rising violence.