Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘No Other Land’, was assaulted by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on Monday—a shocking incident that’s drawing global attention. Witnesses, including Ballal’s fellow directors, say he was later detained by the Israeli military. 🚨
The attack unfolded near Susiya, where tensions have long simmered. While the Israeli military claims Palestinians threw rocks first, sparking clashes, colleagues of Ballal insist he was targeted while documenting settler violence. ‘No Other Land,’ which won Best Documentary at the Berlinale, chronicles Palestinian displacement in the region—a theme now chillingly mirrored in Ballal’s own story.
Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham shared that Ballal suffered head and abdominal injuries and has been unreachable since his detention. 🔍 ‘This is a plot twist no one wanted,’ Abraham wrote online, referencing their film’s message of unity amid conflict.
The incident highlights escalating tensions in the West Bank, where violence between settlers and Palestinians has surged. 🌍 Fans of the documentary, praised for its raw portrayal of life under occupation, are rallying online with #FreeHamdan.
