Oscar-Winning Director's Family Targeted in West Bank Attack
Hamdan Ballal, the co-director of the Academy Award-winning documentary No Other Land, has reported a renewed attack on his family home in the West Bank, nearly one year after his film shocked global audiences with its portrayal of Israeli settler violence. The incident occurred in Susya, located within the Masafer Yatta area on the southern edge of the occupied territory.
Violent Confrontation and Hospitalization
According to Ballal, a group of settlers who have been conducting a long-running harassment campaign against Palestinian villagers arrived at his residence on Sunday. Despite a recent Israeli court order banning non-residents from the area—a rare legal victory for Palestinians—Ballal called the police. Instead, two soldiers accompanied by a local settler leader responded.
"The army came first and immediately raided our house, attacking everyone inside," Ballal stated, standing outside his small concrete home set on a rocky hillside. Although Ballal was not present during this assault, his brother Mohammed was targeted. Soldiers allegedly pushed Mohammed to the ground, demanded his identification, and applied severe pressure to his neck, causing breathing difficulties and turning his face blue.
Fearing for his life, Ballal's nephews rushed Mohammed to the hospital, where he received oxygen and treatment for neck trauma and bruises. This attack follows a previous incident in March last year, shortly after No Other Land won the Oscar, where Ballal himself was injured by settlers.
Detentions and Denials
Relatives from a nearby village, upon hearing of the attack, attempted to reach the Ballal home but were intercepted by the Israeli army. Two of Ballal's brothers, a nephew, and a cousin were handcuffed, blindfolded, and detained for three hours at a nearby military base before being released at night on a road frequented by settlers, further endangering their safety.
An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson confirmed the detentions but denied the assault allegations, stating, "IDF soldiers did not assault them and did not raid their home." The spokesperson explained that the Palestinians were detained for refusing to identify themselves and were released shortly after.
Broader Context of Settlement Violence
No Other Land, which won the 2023 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, depicts the destruction of Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta by Israeli settlers, often with army complicity. The film highlighted a campaign of settlement-building, intimidation, and village clearances across the West Bank, described by human rights groups and a UN special rapporteur as "ethnic cleansing."
Ballal emphasized that the situation has deteriorated, citing a recent incident where settlers raided a Palestinian barn in Masafer Yatta, killing sheep and lambs—an attack captured on video. He noted that the army has prevented Palestinians from ploughing fields and grazing livestock, severely impacting their livelihoods. "It is not a life any more," he lamented.
Legal and Political Developments
This violence occurs amid significant political moves. On Sunday, the Israeli government opened a land registry for the West Bank, allowing Israelis to claim ownership in the occupied territory for the first time since 1967. This action appears to defy Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits transferring civilian populations into occupied areas.
These measures, part of a series tightening Israel's grip on the West Bank, have drawn international rebuke, including from the Trump administration, which opposes annexation. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice ruled Israel's occupation and settlement-building unlawful, calling for withdrawal and reparations for Palestinians.
Hope for Future Change
Ballal expressed frustration that the global attention from his film has not improved conditions in Masafer Yatta, but he remains hopeful for generational change. "We hope the new generation can change [policy], but it will be in the future," he said. He believes that viewers who learn the truth through No Other Land may eventually influence government or diplomacy to halt the violence.
The ongoing attacks underscore the persistent tensions in the West Bank, where Palestinian communities face daily threats from settler expansions supported by military actions, despite international condemnation and legal rulings.
