Oscar Winning Filmmaker Hamdan Ballal Beaten and Abducted!
In a shocking and violent turn of events, Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was beaten by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. The incident, which took place in the Palestinian village of Susiya, is raising alarm for both his safety and the implications of violence in the region.
The Attack: A Violent Outburst
According to reports from the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence and The Associated Press, the attack occurred when a group of masked Israeli settlers, numbering around a dozen, began throwing stones, smashing car windows, and slashing tires. These settlers, many of whom were teenagers armed with sticks and knives, had reportedly been involved in attacks on Jewish activists and the destruction of property.
Ballal, who was at the scene of the attack, suffered serious injuries to his head and stomach. Witnesses said that despite being hurt, he was treated inside an ambulance on site. However, the situation took a dark turn when soldiers arrived. As Ballal was receiving medical care, soldiers detained him and a second Palestinian man. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
Missing and Blindfolded: A Mysterious Disappearance
After Ballal was detained, his condition and location became a mystery. As shared by Yuval Abraham, the co-director of No Other Land, the soldiers invaded the ambulance that Ballal had called for help. Ballal, who had been injured and was seeking medical attention, was blindfolded and taken away. No sign of him has been found since.
Josh Kimelman, one of the activists at the scene, expressed deep concern for Ballal’s safety, telling the press, “We don’t know where Hamdan is because he was taken away in a blindfold.” This raised further fears for Ballal’s well-being, and questions are growing about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
A Call for Justice
The International Documentary Association (IDA) has since issued a statement demanding the immediate release of Ballal, as well as transparency regarding his condition and location. The organization, along with many others, insists that his family and the community should be informed about his situation. The Israeli military has said it is looking into the matter, but they have not provided immediate comment or clarification.
No Other Land and the Attack’s Timing
This tragic attack comes just three weeks after No Other Land, the film co-directed by Ballal and fellow Palestinian filmmaker Basel Adra, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary. The film tells the powerful story of the destruction of Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank by Israeli soldiers. This victory at the Oscars brought significant global attention to the Palestinian struggle and the ongoing issues in the region.
The film was lauded for its raw depiction of the hardships faced by Palestinians living under occupation. During their acceptance speech, the filmmakers made a pointed call to action, urging the world to address the ongoing injustice and “ethnic cleansing” faced by Palestinians, particularly in Gaza.
Adra, speaking about his personal experience as a new father, expressed his hope for a better future for his daughter. He stated, “I hope that she will not have to live the same life I’m living now… No Other Land reflects the harsh reality that we have been enduring for decades and still resist.” Abraham echoed this sentiment, adding that the collaboration between Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers made their voices stronger and showed a united front in the face of adversity.
The Bigger Picture
Ballal’s attack highlights the continued tensions and violence in the region. The Israeli military’s role in the destruction of Palestinian communities, as depicted in No Other Land, has become a focal point for international discussions on human rights violations. While the filmmakers have garnered recognition for their courageous storytelling, the personal attack on Ballal adds a tragic layer to their advocacy.
The international community’s response to this incident will likely influence how the world views the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For now, Ballal’s family, colleagues, and many concerned citizens are left waiting for answers. As the search for the filmmaker continues, the global conversation about the treatment of Palestinians under occupation is more urgent than ever.
