Less than a month after basking in the glow of an Oscar win, Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal now finds himself at the center of a violent and chaotic ordeal. On Monday evening, March 24, 2025, Ballal—co-director of the acclaimed documentary No Other Land—was brutally attacked by Israeli settlers in his home village of Susya, located in the occupied West Bank. Hours later, he was detained by Israeli forces, leaving his whereabouts uncertain and sparking outrage across the globe.
The incident unfolded just after sunset, as residents of Susya were breaking their Ramadan fast. According to Basel Adra, Ballal’s fellow Palestinian co-director on No Other Land, a group of masked settlers—some armed with sticks, rocks, and knives—stormed the village and specifically targeted Ballal’s home. Adra told The Guardian that Ballal was trying to protect his family when the settlers attacked him, leaving him bleeding from his head and stomach. Video footage shared by Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham on X shows masked figures hurling stones during the attack, offering a disturbing glimpse into the violence.
What followed next only fueled global anger. Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene, but instead of assisting Ballal, they detained him. Abraham claimed that the troops pulled the injured filmmaker from an ambulance he had called for help, stating on X that “soldiers invaded the ambulance and took him. No sign of him since.” The Israeli military disputed this version of events, saying Ballal and two other Palestinians were arrested for allegedly throwing rocks at soldiers during a clash that they say was sparked by the settler violence. The IDF also denied that anyone was taken from an ambulance, but the conflicting narratives have only deepened the controversy.
As of Tuesday afternoon, March 25, Ballal’s exact location remained unclear. Later updates from Abraham on X indicated that Ballal was being held at a police station located in an Israeli settlement and that he was injured but alive. Abraham added that Ballal’s lawyer had not yet been granted access to him, leaving his condition and legal situation in limbo. Standing amid the aftermath alongside Ballal’s young son Karam, Adra called the arrest “revenge” for the film’s unflinching portrayal of Palestinian struggles—an accusation that is rapidly gaining traction across social media.
The International Documentary Association has publicly demanded Ballal’s immediate release, urging Israeli authorities to disclose his condition and explain the reason for his detention. In a strongly worded statement, the organization said, “This is an attack on a filmmaker doing vital work.” Meanwhile, online outrage continues to build, with activists, film lovers, and journalists criticizing the silence from major Hollywood publications and demanding international pressure.
Ballal, 37, is not just another documentarian. Along with Adra, Abraham, and Rachel Szor, he co-directed No Other Land, the raw, deeply personal documentary that won Best Documentary Feature at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025. The film highlights the demolition of Palestinian villages in the Masafer Yatta region—where Susya is located—by Israeli forces. It blends lived experiences with political critique, and while it has received global acclaim, it has also provoked backlash.
Adra told the Associated Press he believes the attack was retaliation for their work, describing how the film’s exposure of village demolitions struck a nerve. Witnesses further supported these claims. Josh Kimelman, an activist with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, reported seeing Ballal blindfolded and taken away by soldiers. American Jewish activists who were present said they too were attacked with stones, and their car was smashed while soldiers reportedly stood by without intervening. Adra’s frustration was evident as he described the police being on-site from the beginning and doing nothing.
The news of Ballal’s attack and detention has resonated widely, especially given how recently he had stood on the Oscars stage. Prominent figures like Angel Reese posted messages of support—“Prayers for Hamdan!”— The IDF continues to maintain that the arrests stemmed from what they describe as “violent clashes” in Susya, claiming that Palestinians were throwing rocks at Israeli vehicles, which prompted their response. Still, for many around the world, the image of a bloodied, award-winning filmmaker being detained while his village burned is a symbol of something much darker.
As the dust settles in Susya, Ballal’s family, friends, and colleagues are demanding answers. His co-directors continue to press for his release, and calls for transparency are growing louder online. The village, tucked in the South Hebron Hills, is once again in the spotlight—not for its resilience, but for an act of violence that has crossed the lines between politics, art, and human rights.