Hamdan Ballal’s Recollection of the Attack by Israeli Settlers

Key Points

• Research suggests Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was attacked by Israeli settlers on March 24, 2025, in the West Bank, where he was kicked and spat on, among other injuries.
• The evidence leans toward the attack being retaliatory, linked to his film’s exposure of settler actions, with settlers beating him with brass knuckles and a rifle butt, and soldiers detaining him afterward.
• There is controversy, as the Israeli military claimed Ballal was detained for stone-throwing, which witnesses and activists deny, asserting his commitment to nonviolence.

Background Hamdan Ballal is known for co-directing No Other Land, a documentary that won Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 Oscars, focusing on Palestinian struggles against Israeli military demolitions in Masafer Yatta, West Bank.

The Attack On March 24, 2025, during Ramadan, around two dozen Israeli settlers, some armed and masked, attacked Ballal in Susiya, West Bank. Reports indicate he was kicked, spat on, and beaten with brass knuckles and a rifle butt, with his wife hearing him scream, “I’m dying.” Settlers also threw stones and tried to enter his home.

Detention and Release After the attack, Israeli soldiers detained Ballal, holding him overnight at a military base. He was released the next day with visible injuries, including bruises and blood on his clothes, and received treatment at a hospital in Hebron.

Controversy and Perspectives The Israeli military claimed Ballal was detained for suspected stone-throwing, a claim denied by witnesses, including activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, who emphasized his nonviolent principles. This discrepancy highlights the complexity of the incident.

Event Overview

Hamdan Ballal, along with co-directors Yuval Abraham and Basel Adra, won the Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 Oscars for No Other Land, a film that chronicles the struggles of Palestinian residents in Masafer Yatta against Israeli military demolitions and settler violence (AP News: Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning director of ‘No Other Land’, recalls attack). The documentary’s global exposure, particularly after the Oscar win, is believed to have contributed to the attack, which occurred shortly after Iftar during Ramadan on March 24, 2025, in the village of Susiya, south of Hebron.

Detailed Account of the Attack

According to multiple reports, around two dozen Israeli settlers, some masked and armed with guns, surrounded Ballal’s home in Susiya (CNN: Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning Palestinian director, beaten by Israeli settlers). The attack involved physical violence, with Ballal being kicked, spat on, and beaten with brass knuckles and the butt of a rifle, particularly to his head and abdomen. His wife, Lamya, witnessed the assault and heard him scream, “I’m dying,” as settlers also attempted to penetrate the house through windows (The Guardian: Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning Palestinian director attacked by Israeli settlers and arrested). Witnesses, including co-director Basel Adra, neighbor Najah Mughanam, and five American activists from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence (CJNV), reported that settlers threw stones, smashed car windows, and slashed tires, extending the violence to activists present to document the incident (NPR: Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian director beaten by Israeli settlers, is now released).

Ballal himself recounted the attack, stating that a known settler, Shem Tov Lusky, approached him from behind and punched him on the back of the head, causing him to fall. Soldiers pointed guns at him and cursed in Hebrew, escalating the situation (972 Magazine: Hamdan Ballal recounts assault by Israeli settlers and soldiers). The violence was filmed by Ballal and activists, with blood found on the floor of his home, as reported by family members (The Guardian: Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning Palestinian director attacked by Israeli settlers and arrested).

Immediate Aftermath and Detention

Following the attack, Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene and detained Ballal, taking him to a military base for medical treatment. He was held overnight, during which he was reportedly beaten in custody, forced to sleep on the floor under a freezing air conditioner, and suffered from dehydration and bruising (CNN: Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning Palestinian director, beaten by Israeli settlers). He was released on March 25, 2025, with visible injuries, including bruises on his face and blood on his clothes, and received treatment at a hospital in Hebron before returning home to Susya (AP News: Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning director of ‘No Other Land’, recalls attack).

Israeli Military and Police Statements

The Israeli military and police issued statements claiming that Ballal and two other Palestinians were detained on suspicion of hurling stones at Israeli citizens and security forces, as well as property damage and “endangering regional security” (The New York Times: Israeli Police Release Palestinian Director Hamdan Ballal). The IDF also stated that an Israeli civilian was detained for involvement in a “violent confrontation,” and denied claims that Ballal was arrested while inside an ambulance, asserting that the detention was due to a confrontation involving rock-throwing by Palestinians (BBC News: Palestinian Oscar winner Hamdan Ballal held by Israeli soldiers after attack by settlers, activists say). Witnesses and activists, including Joshua Kimmelman from CJNV, denied these claims, stating that Ballal is committed to principles of nonviolence and did not throw stones (NPR: Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian director beaten by Israeli settlers, is now released).

Context and Broader Implications

The attack on Ballal is part of a broader pattern of settler violence in the West Bank, with reports indicating over 45 attacks on Susya since October 7, 2023, and a nearly 50% expansion of settler herding outposts by December 2024 (CNN: Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning Palestinian director, beaten by Israeli settlers). Previous incidents included documented threats and intimidation, such as settlers placing livestock on Ballal’s land, with no police action taken (CNN: Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning Palestinian director, beaten by Israeli settlers). Ballal and his co-directors believe the attack was retaliatory, linked to the film’s exposure of settler actions globally following its Oscar win, with co-director Yuval Abraham noting on X that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences initially declined to publicly support Ballal, citing other Palestinians being attacked as a reason not to respond (The Guardian: ‘It was revenge for our movie’: Oscar winner says soldiers helped settlers attack him in West Bank).

The incident drew significant international attention, with Hollywood figures like Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem, and Emma Thompson criticizing the Academy for its initial lack of support, leading to an apology for not directly acknowledging Ballal and his film (BBC: Academy apologises for statement on No Other Land director attack). The International Documentary Association also issued a statement demanding Ballal’s immediate release and information about his condition (Democracy Now!: Oscar-Winning Palestinian Filmmaker Hamdan Ballal Brutally Beaten in Mob Attack by Israeli Settlers).

Detailed Breakdown of Key Information

To organize the information effectively, the following table summarizes the critical details: