In a shocking turn of events on March 24, 2025, Hamdan Ballal, a celebrated Palestinian filmmaker and co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was reportedly attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

The incident, which unfolded in the village of Susya in the Masafer Yatta region south of Hebron, has sparked outrage and concern worldwide. According to eyewitnesses, Hamdan Ballal was not only assaulted but also arrested by the Israeli military shortly after, raising questions about justice and safety in the volatile region.

The attack occurred just weeks after Hamdan Ballal and his co-directors—Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor—celebrated their triumph at the 2025 Academy Awards, where No Other Land clinched the Best Documentary Feature.

The film, a powerful collaboration between Palestinian and Israeli activists, shines a light on the forced displacement of Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta, an area long plagued by tensions between settlers and residents. For many, this violent episode feels like a grim real-life echo of the struggles depicted on screen.

Who is Hamdan Ballal?

Hamdan Ballal is a talented Palestinian filmmaker, photographer, farmer, and human rights activist hailing from Susiya, a small village in the West Bank. Born in 1989, he’s poured his heart into capturing the real-life stories of Palestinian communities grappling with displacement. Together with Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor, he co-directed No Other Land, a powerful documentary filmed over four years, from 2019 to 2023.

The film shines a light on the Masafer Yatta community’s fight against forced evictions and home demolitions by Israeli authorities. It hit the big screen at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in 2024, where it won over audiences and critics alike, snagging the Berlinale Documentary Award and the Panorama Audience Award. And in 2025, it took home the ultimate prize—the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Beyond his work behind the camera, Hamdan Ballal has thrown himself into projects close to his heart, like the “Humans of Masafer Yatta” initiative, where he’s helped share the stories of everyday folks in his community. He’s also given his time to B’Tselem, a group that keeps a close eye on human rights violations tied to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, jotting down what he sees and hears.

Just yesterday, on March 24, 2025, things took a rough turn—word is, he was attacked by Israeli settlers right in his home village of Susiya. While he was getting patched up in an ambulance, Israeli forces stepped in and took him away. Right now, no one’s quite sure where he’s at, and it’s got people worried.

A Village Under Siege

Eyewitnesses, including five Jewish American activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, described a chaotic scene. They reported that around 15 masked settlers, armed with stones and weapons, descended on Susya, targeting Hamdan Ballal’s home. “They hurled rocks at Palestinians and even smashed a water tank near his house,” said Joseph, one of the activists, who withheld his full name for safety reasons.

The settlers allegedly chased Ballal into his residence before handing him over to Israeli soldiers, who detained him. Videos circulating online show masked assailants attacking activists and shattering car windows, amplifying the sense of lawlessness.

Basel Adra, another Palestinian co-director of the film, was present during the assault and called it “horrific.” Speaking to The Guardian, he suggested the violence might be retaliation for the documentary’s global recognition. “Since we returned from the Oscars, the settler attacks have intensified. It feels like revenge for the movie and its message,” Adra said.

He recounted how dozens of settlers, some alongside soldiers, threatened residents with weapons while police stood by without intervening. “Hamdan Ballal was just trying to protect his family when they attacked him,” he added.

The Israeli military’s account differs. They claim a “violent clash” erupted between Palestinians and settlers, involving “mutual stone-throwing.” According to their statement, three Palestinians, including Ballal, and one Israeli were arrested after security forces were targeted with rocks. They denied allegations that Ballal was taken from an ambulance, though witnesses insist he was injured and bleeding when detained.

The incident has reignited debates about settler violence in the West Bank, where over 500,000 Israeli settlers live among 3 million Palestinians under military rule. No Other Land has been a lightning rod, praised internationally for its raw portrayal of life under occupation but criticized by some in Israel, including the country’s culture minister, who called its Oscar win “a sad moment for cinema.” For Palestinians in Susya and beyond, the attack on Ballal underscores the daily threats they face—threats the film sought to expose.

As of March 25, 2025, Ballal’s whereabouts remain unclear, with his legal team unable to reach him. The assault has drawn condemnation from activists and filmmakers alike, who see it as an attempt to silence voices advocating for justice. For now, the world watches and waits, hoping for answers in a story that feels far too close to the one Ballal risked everything to tell.