Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian Oscar-winning co-director of No Other Land, has been freed, his Israeli co-director Yuval Abraham said on Tuesday.
“After being handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now free and is about to go home to his family,” Abraham posted on X.
Members of the global film industry, including artists and filmmakers, had called for Ballal’s release after his alleged assault by Israeli settlers and subsequent detention by the Israeli army in the West Bank.
Newsweek has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel’s police for comment.
Why It Matters
The incident has highlighted the growing tensions in the West Bank, which have intensified alongside Israel’s ongoing conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. The U.S. remains a key ally and supporter of Israel.
What To Know
Co-director Abraham first reported the assault and said Ballal had been assaulted by settlers before being arrested. He corrected an initial post to say that Ballal had not been lynched.
The IDF had said they detained Ballal, along with two other Palestinians, on suspicion of throwing rocks during a clash near Susya in the West Bank, Israeli media reported.
“After the assault, Hamdan was handcuffed and blindfolded all night in an army base while two soldiers beat him up on the floor, his lawyer Leah Tsemel said after speaking with him just now,” Abraham posted on X.
The IDF told Newsweek in an email to refer to the Israeli police, who did not immediately respond for comment.
Ballal’s wife told the Associated Press he was beaten outside their home by men in military uniforms as she heard him screaming for help as she sheltered inside with their children. “Of course, after the Oscar, they have come to attack us more. I felt afraid,” Lamia Ballal said.
Ballal is best known for co-directing the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, alongside Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham. The film highlights the destruction of Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank by Israeli soldiers and the complex dynamics of the region.
Ballal’s assault and arrest gained international media coverage and social media attention through hashtags such as #NoOtherLand and #hamdanballal among others on X and Instagram. Hollywood star Mark Ruffalo reposted a news story about Ballal’s attack on his Instagram stories.
What People Are Saying
Palestinian Filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, in article for Humans for Masafer Yatta: “Settler terrorism and violence against Palestinians in Masafer Yatta continues to increase, and the lack of accountability or legal action gives these extremist settlers greater power and freedom to attack who and whatever they wish.”
Film Critic Aayush Sharma on X: “This is a worrying situation. ‘No Other Land’ won the OSCAR for Best Documentary Feature at this year’s Academy Awards. The documentary talks about a young Palestinian activist resisting the forced displacement of his people by Israel’s military.”
Artistes Pour La Palestine, a France-based collective of artists advocating Palestinian rights: “We call on all artists to show massive support for Palestine in every possible way against the ongoing horror and injustice. Let’s be loud, creative, and not let silence take over.”
What Happens Next
Ballal is expected to be reunited with his family after his release. Tensions in the West Bank are on the rise.
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