Palestinian Filmmaker Hamdan Ballal Detained After Violent Encounter with Israeli Settlers

Hamdan Ballal, recently celebrated for his documentary success, endured a harrowing experience involving violent confrontations with Israeli settlers leading to his arrest and injuries while attempting to protect his family.

Last week, Hamdan Ballal was under the spotlight in Hollywood as he accepted an Oscar for his documentary. However, he found himself in front of cameras again, this time displaying visible signs of trauma after a violent altercation with Israeli settlers, which culminated in nearly 24 hours of detention. On his release, Ballal recounted a terrifying scene where settlers and soldiers assaulted him outside his home in Susya, West Bank.

He explained to reporters, "They started beating me and threatened me with guns," while Israeli soldiers fired shots in the air. During his detention, he was reportedly blindfolded and subjected to mocking remarks about his Oscar win, as he endured conditions that left him physically shaken.

The incident that night was marked by extreme violence, with Hamdan’s co-director, Basel Adra, witnessing approximately 15 settlers vandalizing property, attacking homes, and targeting families. Adra described the night as perilous, expressing fear for his life as he struggled to guide people to safety while Hamdan remained locked inside his home attempting to shield his family.

The Israel Defense Forces contended that the violence began when Palestinians launched stones at Israeli citizens, which led to a mutual confrontation. However, eyewitness accounts from activists contradict this narrative. Josh Kimelman, an American activist present during the episode, reported that settlers initiated the aggression towards Palestinian shepherds, escalating into a mob mentality against nearby houses and those trying to assist them.

Local residents, including Adra, revealed a surge in settler violence, indicating that the village has experienced numerous attacks throughout the year, significantly heightening the sense of danger and fear among families living in the community.

Upon paying bail for his release, Hamdan’s immediate concern was medical attention for his injuries before returning home to his family. As Ballal reflected on their recent Oscar triumph—hailing from a marginalized community—he expressed disappointment at the lack of tangible change, stating, “The movie reached the biggest stage in the world... but that does not help us on the ground here.”