Oscar-winning 'No Other Land' director attacked by Israeli settlers again
What's the story
Hamdan Ballal, the Academy Award-winning co-director of No Other Land, has been assaulted by a group of Israeli settlers at his home in the West Bank. The incident involved an assault by the same settler who had previously attacked him shortly after his Oscar win in March 2025. In a social media statement, Ballal revealed that four of his family members were currently under arrest while one is hospitalized with serious injuries.
Details
Ballal's statement on the attack
Ballal shared, "Two weeks ago we managed to get a decision from the Israeli court that the area around my home is closed to non-residents, but the settlers break that order and still come with their flocks almost every day." "We call the police, they do nothing. The army comes, they do nothing." "Today, Shem Tov Lusky, the settler who attacked me in my home shortly after I won the Oscar last year, came with his flock to my home."
Escalation of violence
Settlers have intensified harassment
Despite calling the police, "the army came first and immediately raided our house, attacking everyone inside." Ballal further revealed that despite the court victory, the settlers have intensified their harassment. He said, "The settlers have ramped up their harassment and the Israeli authorities have done nothing to enforce the decision, and today they joined the settlers in the attack." The Palestinian filmmaker had previously expressed similar sentiments in an op-ed for The New York Times after his first attack.
Open invitation
Ballal invites journalists, diplomats to visit him
Ballal concluded his statement by inviting "all journalists and diplomats" to visit him and his family. He wants them to hear about how the situation has worsened in the year since they won the Oscar. The post has been shared by fellow industry colleagues like Natasha Lyonne and Sepideh Moafi. No Other Land, which documents the destruction of Masafer Yatta by Israeli forces, was directed by a Palestinian-Israeli collective including Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham.