Palestinian Oscar-winning filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was attacked and injured by Israeli settlers before being detained by Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank on Monday, according to reports.

Ballal, one of the two Palestinian co-directors of the acclaimed documentary No Other Land, was reportedly injured during an attack on the village of Susya, near Hebron. According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, radical Jewish settlers threw stones at residents, damaging homes and cars. Four Palestinians, including Ballal, were injured in the attack.

Israeli military authorities confirmed the arrest of three Palestinians and an Israeli civilian following an altercation involving rock-hurling but did not name Ballal. His Israeli co-director, Yuval Abraham, stated that Ballal suffered injuries to his head and stomach and was bleeding before being taken by Israeli soldiers.

Basel Adra, the other Palestinian co-director of No Other Land, claimed on social media that Ballal had been “abducted” by soldiers and remained missing. A video shared by Abraham on X allegedly showed masked Israeli settlers throwing stones and attacking Ballal.

Israel denies ambulance claims

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) denied claims that Ballal had been taken from an ambulance, stating that the arrests followed a violent confrontation involving “mutual rock-hurling”. The IDF said those detained were transferred to Israeli police for questioning, while an Israeli civilian was evacuated for medical treatment.

No Other Land and rising tensions

No Other Land documents the demolition of Palestinian villages in the West Bank and has received critical acclaim, winning the Oscar for Best Documentary earlier this month and the Berlinale Documentary Film Award last year.

Co-director Adra suggested to the Associated Press that the attack on Ballal may be linked to the documentary’s international recognition. “We came back from the Oscars, and every day since, there is an attack on us,” Adra said. “This might be their revenge on us for making the movie. It feels like a punishment.”

The Oscar win sparked controversy, with Israel’s Culture Minister Miki Zohar calling the award “a sad moment for the world of cinema”

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