You know you’ve made a powerful documentary when people start coming for you like you’re in an action movie. Hamdan Ballal, the co-director of No Other Land—which just won an Oscar, by the way—was reportedly beaten and detained by the Israeli military after an attack by settlers. And no, unfortunately, this isn’t the plot of his next film.
A Real-Life Horror Scene in Susiya
According to Jewish activists, a group of settlers decided to go full villain mode, storming the Palestinian village of Susiya in the Masafer Yatta area, destroying property like they were auditioning for a destruction derby. The Center for Jewish Nonviolence reported that these settlers—who apparently missed the memo that human decency is a thing—went on a rampage.
Ballal, who was already having a terrible day, got attacked, leaving his head bleeding. But wait—there’s more! While he was receiving medical attention in an ambulance (you know, because he was literally injured), the Israeli military stepped in and thought, “Hey, this guy getting beaten up? He seems like the real problem here,” and detained him along with another Palestinian man.
“Where’s Hamdan?” (A Real-Life Mystery No One Asked For)
If this whole thing wasn’t dystopian enough, activist Josh Kimelman told AP that they have no idea where Ballal is because, oh yeah, he was taken away in a blindfold—which is totally not a creepy hostage-movie move or anything.
And let’s talk about the group of 10 to 20 masked settlers who went full-on medieval, attacking people with stones and sticks—because nothing says “21st century” like an old-fashioned rock fight. They also went after cars, smashing windows and slashing tires like an angsty teenager in a bad breakup.
Oscar Winner, But at What Cost?
No Other Land just won the Academy Award for Best Documentary, shining a light on the ongoing struggle of Masafer Yatta’s residents as they fight to keep their villages from being demolished. You’d think an Oscar would bring some level of protection or, at the very least, a little global respect—but nope, apparently, it just makes you a bigger target.
The film has four directors—Ballal and Basel Adra, both Palestinian, and two Israelis, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor—proving that actual cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis is possible (if people would stop, you know, attacking them).
The Bigger Picture (And It’s Not a Pretty One)
The Israeli military designated Masafer Yatta as a live-fire training zone in the 1980s, which is a pretty creative way of saying, “We’re kicking you out.” Since then, around 1,000 residents have refused to budge, despite constant demolitions of homes, water tanks, and olive orchards—because nothing says “threat” like a bunch of olive trees, right?
In the broader picture, the violence in the West Bank has escalated, with settlers attacking Palestinians more frequently, while Israeli forces continue their military operations. Palestinians, in turn, have also carried out attacks on Israelis, fueling a cycle of violence that no one seems eager to break.
So, Where Is Hamdan Ballal?
That’s the million-dollar question. Until we get answers, the world is watching. Hopefully, he’s safe, and this absurd, infuriating situation doesn’t get even worse. Because honestly, when filmmakers are getting detained like this, it’s not just a problem for one person—it’s a problem for truth itself.
This story is still developing—because of course it is. Stay tuned.
