On Monday, filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, a co-director of the acclaimed documentary No Other Land, was apprehended by Israeli military personnel in the occupied West Bank following an incident where he allegedly faced a violent assault by settlers.

Incident Overview

Yuval Abraham, Ballal’s collaborator and co-director of the documentary, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to report the attack, describing it as a “lynching” by a group of settlers who severely injured Ballal, resulting in bleeding from his head and stomach.

According to eyewitness accounts, Ballal was being treated for injuries in an ambulance when Israeli soldiers intervened and took him along with two other individuals from the village of Susiya. Anna Lippman, an activist present at the scene, confirmed the event, noting that the attackers damaged property in the village as well.

Response and Statements

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement claiming that a “violent confrontation” occurred in Susiya, during which Palestinians allegedly threw rocks at Israeli citizens. They further asserted that mutual rock-throwing ensued, which prompted their intervention.

In a separate statement, the IDF denied that a Palestinian was detained from within the ambulance and confirmed that Ballal was among the three individuals detained on suspicion of rock-throwing.

Support for Ballal

As news of his detention spread, various activists and organizations expressed their support for Ballal. Basel Adra, another co-director of No Other Land, shared a post depicting Ballal being escorted to a vehicle while voicing concerns over his health and whereabouts. The International Documentary Association also voiced their call for his release, citing the need for clarity regarding his condition and the reasons for his detention.

Documentary Context

No Other Land documents the demolition of Palestinian villages in Masafer Yatta, aimed at facilitating the expansion of Israeli military training areas, thereby displacing local communities. The film garnered attention at the 2025 Academy Awards, winning best documentary.

Recent Controversies

The film has recently been embroiled in local controversies, particularly in Miami Beach, where Mayor Steven Meiner threatened to withdraw funding from a cinema for screening it. After backlash, he revoked his threats, emphasizing the debate surrounding the film’s content and its implications for discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.