Oscar-Winning Palestinian Director Hamdan Ballal Beaten, Arrested by Israeli Settlers and Soldiers

Attack on Hamdan Ballal

• 🎬 Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning co-director of "No Other Land," was brutally beaten by masked Israeli settlers and subsequently arrested by Israeli soldiers in the village of Susia, Masafer Yatta.
• 💥 The assault occurred shortly after residents broke their daily Ramadan fast, with settlers entering the village and initiating the attack.
• 🤕 Ballal sustained injuries to his head and stomach, reportedly screaming "I'm dying" during the violent encounter.
• 👨‍ military forces intervened, preventing villagers and activists from reaching Ballal and subsequently abducting him to a military base.

Eyewitness Accounts and Accusations

• 🕊️ Anna Litman, a Jewish American peace activist, witnessed the attack and stated that settlers ambushed her and other activists with stones and sticks, breaking their car windows.
• 🤥 The IDF claimed Palestinians were hurling rocks, leading to the apprehension of three Palestinians and one Israeli civilian. However, eyewitnesses like Litman and Ballal's co-director, Basel Adra, dispute these accusations.
• ⚖️ Litman highlighted a significant double standard, noting that Palestinians face severe consequences for even touching a stone, while settlers can attack with impunity.

"No Other Land" and Ongoing Occupation

• 🏆 The attack on Ballal comes just three weeks after he and his co-directors won an Oscar for their documentary "No Other Land," which chronicles Palestinian struggles against home demolitions and settler violence in Masafer Yatta.
• 📈 Co-director Basel Adra described the incident as part of a pattern of daily attacks in Masafer Yatta, calling for international intervention to end the violent occupation.
• 📢 Adra emphasized that the actions of settlers and the military are not isolated incidents but reflect an official state policy aimed at legitimizing the occupation and seizing Palestinian land.
• 🌍 Adra urged the international community to intervene seriously against settlers, Israeli policies, and the illegal occupation to ensure the safety and rights of Palestinians.

Ballal's Status and Calls for Action

• ❓ As of the interview, Ballal's condition and whereabouts were uncertain, with his lawyer unable to reach him despite reports he was taken for medical treatment.
• ✊ The International Documentary Association issued a statement demanding Ballal's immediate release and that his family be informed of his condition and the justification for his detention.
• 📢 Adra stressed that protection is needed not only for Ballal due to his Oscar win but for all Palestinians living under occupation, emphasizing the need for global awareness and action.