Extra

On March 25, 2025, Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was brutally assaulted by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank village of Susya, in the Masafer Yatta region. Ballal, known for co-directing the documentary No Other Land, which highlights the struggles of Palestinians against home demolitions and settler violence, was attacked shortly after breaking the Ramadan fast. His co-director Basel Adra and Jewish American peace activist Anna Lippman were eyewitnesses to the assault, which involved masked settlers and Israeli soldiers. Adra confirmed that while Ballal was being beaten, soldiers stood by, pointing guns and firing warning shots to prevent villagers from intervening. 

Ballal’s injuries were severe, and as he screamed for help, the soldiers abducted him. Despite false accusations from Israeli military authorities that Ballal had thrown stones, eyewitnesses, including Lippman, confirm that no such actions occurred. This attack underscores the systematic violence faced by Palestinians in the West Bank, especially in areas like Masafer Yatta, where settlers routinely clash with the local population. The international community must urgently intervene to end this violence and hold those responsible accountable. 

Since the attack, Ballal has been released, but his condition remains unknown. The international community, especially the United States which is funding much of the conflict, must continue to demand justice for Ballal and all Palestinians living under the brutal Israeli occupation.