Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” was injured and detained after an alleged conflict Monday in the West Bank, according to his colleague.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Ballal’s peers and relatives issued to very different versions of events. The IDF said three Palestinians were arrested on suspicion of throwing stones at IDF personnel, according to a statement obtained by NBC News. Ballal has been identified as one of the accused by multiple reports. His co-director, Yuval Abraham, accused IDF soldiers of stopping the ambulance in which Ballal was being evacuated and arresting him. Abraham claimed Monday on X that a group of settlers had beaten Ballal before he was detained.
“They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding,” Abraham wrote.
Abraham issued a statement Tuesday saying Ballal had been released. “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,” he wrote on X.
The IDF confirms: Hamdan Bilal, director of the Oscar-winning fake propaganda film “No Other Land”, was arrested on suspicion of throwing stones at IDF forces.
The IDF denies the claims made by Yuval Avraham, his co-director, who accused IDF soldiers of stopping the ambulance in… pic.twitter.com/XxqlcEz2ld
— Israel News Pulse (@israelnewspulse) March 24, 2025
Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal holds his Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for “No Other Land” during the 97th Annual Academy Awards Governors Ball at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 2, 2025. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
The director told The Associated Press (AP) he was beaten in front of his home Monday in the village of Susiya in the Masafer Yatta region.
Palestinian locals alleged multiple Israeli settlers, some masked and other armed, attacked the village.
The IDF denied the claims made by Abraham and detailed their version of the events that unfolded.
A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co director of our film no other land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.
— Yuval Abraham יובל אברהם (@yuval_abraham) March 24, 2025
The IDF said “several terrorists threw stones at Israeli civilians and damaged their vehicles, prompting “violent clashes” between Israelis and Palestinians, according to NBC News.
“When IDF and police forces arrived at the scene to disperse the clashes, several terrorists began throwing stones at the security forces. In response, the forces arrested three Palestinians suspected of throwing stones at the forces, as well as an Israeli citizen who was involved in the violent clashes.”
The IDF insisted that “contrary to the claims, no Palestinian who was inside an ambulance was arrested.”
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.
— Yuval Abraham יובל אברהם (@yuval_abraham) March 25, 2025
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 02: (L-R) Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Szor, winners of the Best Documentary Feature Film for “No Other Land”, attend the 97th Annual Oscars Governors Ball at Ovation Hollywood Complex on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
Both parties reported that three Palestinians were detained after the conflict.
Reports indicated that Ballal was held in a police station.
A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co director of our film no other land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.
— Yuval Abraham יובל אברהם (@yuval_abraham) March 24, 2025
Lea Tsemel spoke on behalf of the three Palestinians, and told the AP that her clients did not receive thorough medical assistance and said she could not contact them for several hours. Tsemel said they were accused of throwing stones, allegations they deny.
The IDF said an Israeli citizen was detained after the conflict but noted the individual was evacuated to receive medical care.
Ballal’s wife, Lamia Ballal, issued a statement to the AP alleging that her husband was attacked outside of their home.
“Of course, after the Oscar, they have come to attack us more,” she said. “I felt afraid.” (RELATED: Pro-Palestine Protests Erupt At Gal Gadot’s Walk Of Fame Ceremony)
“No Other Land” was directed by two Israeli filmmakers and two Palestinian filmmakers, and won an Oscar for Best Documentary at the 97th annual Academy Awards March 2.
