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Hamdan Ballal’s ‘No Other Land’ co-directors skewer film academy for silence on attack, detainment

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The creators of “No Other Land” expressed disappointment that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did not publicly stand by co-director Hamdan Ballal when his support was crucial.

Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham and Palestinian activist Basel Adra, who are co-directors and stars of the documentary, spoke out on Wednesday against the film academy for its lack of response to the recent attack on Ballal and his subsequent detention by Israeli military and police in the occupied West Bank. Israel authorities arrested Ballal following a violent assault by settlers on Monday; he was released the next day. The same team – Abraham, Adra, and Israeli filmmaker Rachel Szor – had recently won the documentary prize for “No Other Land” at the 97th Academy Awards just weeks prior to this event.

I woke up to a passionate post from Abraham this morning, expressing disappointment that the academy failed to publicly back Hamdan Ballal during his ordeal at the hands of Israeli soldiers and settlers, which included brutal beatings and torture. He mentioned that some members within the academy had advocated for a statement in solidarity with Ballal, but these calls were ultimately ignored. This week, organizations like the European Film Academy and the International Documentary Association have been using their platforms to bring attention to Ballal’s detainment and demand his release. As a film enthusiast, I find it disheartening that such an influential body in our industry seems unwilling to stand up for one of their own during difficult times.

Abraham stated that since the altercation involving other Palestinians during the settler attack seemed unconnected to the film, they didn’t feel compelled to issue a response about it.

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Filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, hailing from Palestine and known for his movie ‘No Other Land’, has been released, just under 24 hours after Israeli security personnel apprehended him in the wake of an aggressive assault by settlers.

Abraham stated that his colleague overheard Israeli soldiers making light of the Oscar while inflicting torture, and that Ballal was likewise singled out due to his Palestinian identity. Adra, echoing Abraham’s assertion on Twitter yesterday, reinforced the claim, saying: “They refused to assist Hamdan solely because he is Palestinian, further proof that our lives hold little value.

It appears that this situation provided the Academy with a reason for staying quiet when a filmmaker they had honored, who was residing under Israeli occupation, required their support the most. Abraham stated prior to continuing, “It’s not too late for them to alter this position.

He concluded by saying that making a public statement denouncing the attack on both Hamdan and the Masafer Yatta community would carry a strong meaning and act as a preventive measure against similar incidents in the future.

A representative for the academy did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment.

On Monday evening, Israeli forces arrested Ballal following an incident involving a group of settlers who entered the Palestinian village of Susiya during Ramadan fast-breaking. Ballal’s wife, Lamia Ballal, informed AP that she heard her husband being beaten outside their home and him shouting, “I’m dying.” She added that she saw three uniformed men using the butts of their rifles, and suggested that the increased attention on “No Other Land” (the film for which they won an Oscar) provoked more settler attacks against them.

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In harrowing ‘No Other Land,’ journalists unite to chronicle a community under siege

Four Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers compile footage showing the destruction of Masafer Yatta in the West Bank, turning it into an impassioned plea for justice against the ongoing occupation.

On Monday, Abraham along with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence disclosed that Ballal had been apprehended. Abraham tweeted on the same day that “soldiers stormed the ambulance called by Ballal, and took him away.” Similarly, Adra shared a tweet about Ballal’s detainment on Monday, posting a picture of an individual with their hands bound behind them getting led into a vehicle displaying the Israeli flag. At that moment, Adra stated that “Hamdan…is still unaccounted for after soldiers seized him, wounded and bleeding.

On a Monday, the Center for Jewish Nonviolence uploaded a timestamped, dashcam video on Bluesky of a confrontation. In this footage, an individual is seen pushing three people and striking one member of the group, while another person (wearing a mask to conceal their face) along with several others retrieved an object from the ground and threw it at the vehicle, resulting in a smashed windshield. Anna Lippman, a representative of the activist group, posted a different angle video and tweeted pictures of a car containing glass fragments in the passenger seats. According to The Times, on the same day, Israeli soldiers removed Ballal from an ambulance where he was receiving treatment, and also detained two other Palestinian men.

Following the announcement of Ballal’s arrest on Monday, a representative from the Israel Defense Forces stated that a violent clash occurred later, with the IDF claiming several individuals, labelled as “terrorists,” had thrown stones at Israeli civilians and damaged their vehicles. The confrontation saw Palestinians and Israelis exchanging stone-throwing. According to the statement, Israeli forces intervened to quell the dispute, but the alleged terrorists started hurling rocks towards them. Four individuals, including one Israeli suspected of being involved in the incident, were arrested and taken for further questioning.

On Monday, the Israeli Defense Force’s spokesperson refuted claims that they had apprehended someone within an ambulance. Instead, they arrested Ballal under the suspicion that he was throwing stones at both IDF personnel and police officers.

On Tuesday, Ballal emerged from an Israeli police station bearing facial injuries and stained clothing. He shared with the Associated Press that he had been subjected to being blindfolded, made to endure cold conditions under an air conditioner, and overheard the amused voices of soldiers discussing him.

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This Academy Award-nominated documentary was created by a collaborative group of Palestinian and Israeli activist filmmakers, offering a perspective on daily existence within an occupied West Bank village.

In an interview with The Times this morning, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) representative refuted unfounded accusations that prisoners were mistreated at a military prison, instead affirming that medical care was provided to those detained. The statement acknowledged that handcuffs were used on prisoners in adherence to standard procedures, but it did not counter Ballal’s assertions concerning the circumstances of their arrest. According to the IDF, three individuals were interrogated for allegedly throwing rocks, damaging property, and jeopardizing regional security. Upon completion of questioning, these detainees were freed with stipulations that they avoid contact with others linked to the incident and post bail.

On Monday, it’s reported that a civilian from Israel sustained injuries during the encounter and needed medical care, according to the representative.

“The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected,” the statement said.

Following Ballal’s discharge from custody, Abraham posted on Twitter on Tuesday that his fellow director “is now out and is heading home to his loved ones.” Similarly, Adra uploaded pictures of their co-director receiving treatment. These images depict Ballal lying on a medical examination table, surrounded by two healthcare professionals. One can be seen securing a blood pressure cuff on the director’s left arm. There are spots that appear to be blood stains on the sleeve and the front of his striped attire.

In an interview with The Guardian on Wednesday, Ballal stated that it was a form of retaliation for our film.

In my perspective, “No Other Land” encapsulates the heartbreaking destruction of Palestinian villages within Masafer Yatta and the forced displacement of their communities, making way for Israeli military exercise areas.

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2025-03-27 00:01

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