‘No Other Land’ Co-Director Says U.S. Academy ‘Refused’ to Issue Statement in Support of Hamdan Ballal: They Were ‘Silent When a Filmmaker They Honored Needed Them the Most’

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Yuval Abraham, a key filmmaker in the production of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” has voiced disapproval towards the Academy for remaining silent on the recent attack experienced by his Palestinian co-director, Hamdan Ballal.

Yesterday, I received news that Hamdan Ballal, my fellow filmmaker of ‘No Other Land,’ was viciously attacked by a group of settlers. According to my colleague Abraham, Hamdan has sustained injuries to his head and stomach, and is currently bleeding. In an unfortunate turn of events, Israeli authorities took him away after he called for an ambulance. Since then, there’s been no word on his whereabouts.

News about Ballal’s assault and imprisonment led to the creation of a petition demanding his freedom and comments from groups such as the International Documentary Association. On Wednesday, Abraham voiced his criticism towards the Academy by posting on X without any response.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Academy, who honored us with an Oscar three weeks prior, chose not to publicly express solidarity with Hamdan Ballal when he was brutally beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers and settlers. In contrast, the European Academy and numerous other award bodies spoke out in support, as did many festivals. Several members within the U.S. Academy, particularly those from the documentary branch, advocated for a statement; however, it was ultimately denied. We were informed that since other Palestinians had also been beaten during the settler attack, they deemed it unrelated to our film, and thus felt no compulsion to issue a response.

Abraham went on to explain: “Essentially, Hamdan was singled out because he produced ‘No Other Land,’ but that wasn’t his only reason. Soldiers made light of the Oscar while they were torturing him, indicating this wasn’t just about the film. It was also because he was Palestinian, a fate shared by countless others daily who are overlooked. This situation seemed to provide the Academy with an excuse to stay quiet when a filmmaker they recognized, living under Israeli occupation, required their help the most. However, it’s not too late for them to change this position. Even now, issuing a statement condemning the attack on Hamdan and the Masafer Yatta community would carry a strong message and act as a deterrent for future incidents.

The Academy did not immediately respond to EbMaster‘s request for comment.

Speaking from the hospital, I shared with ABC News my genuine fear, expressing, “I’m terrified; I have this nagging feeling that if they continue to attack me, I might not make it.” I recounted to ABC News how I was brutally assaulted at the hands of Jewish settlers right at my home in Susiya, on Monday, just beyond the village.

Ballal shared with ABC News that the attack was incredibly intense, saying, “It felt as if I was about to perish because it was so brutal.” He explained that he was bleeding profusely all over, and the pain was overwhelming, reaching deep within his heart. He added that the assault lasted approximately 15-20 minutes, with them continuing to attack him relentlessly. Ballal also verified that there were soldiers armed with guns present during the ordeal.

As a film enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: “I was informed by the Israeli authorities that Ballal and other Palestinians are being held under conditions where they must avoid contact with others implicated in the case, and have the option to post their own bail.

Additionally, accusations about stone-throwing were made, but Ballal firmly refutes these claims. In response to ABC News, he stated, “I didn’t hurl stones; I never caused trouble with the settlers. Instead, it was the settlers who attacked me and inflicted beatings upon me.” That’s all there is to it.

Based on reports from the Associated Press, Ballal was “detained at a military facility, kept with a blindfold for 24 hours and compelled to rest under cold air conditioning.

Ballal shared with AP that he’s in agony throughout his entire body,” he said. “He recalled hearing the soldiers’ laughter and jokes at his expense… However, he confessed that he didn’t understand Hebrew, so he didn’t respond when they called him ‘Oscar.’

According to a report by The Associated Press, members from the Center for Jewish Nonviolence witnessed Ballal being assaulted by Israeli settlers. They stated that approximately 10-20 masked settlers viciously attacked him, along with other activists, using stones and sticks. Furthermore, they destroyed the windows of their vehicle and slashed the tires.

On Tuesday, a collective of international filmmakers such as Alex Gibney and Christine Vachon endorsed a petition calling for the liberation of Ballal. They asserted that Ballal was violently ejected from an ambulance by Israeli soldiers after being assaulted by settlers, and since then, there has been no transparency about his location.

In the spirit of sharing my thoughts, I felt compelled to express my views on the recent development that has unfolded. Just days ago, a significant milestone was reached with over 4,500 signatures amassed, and it was with great anticipation that we awaited news. And lo and behold, Abraham announced the liberation of Hamdan Ballal via X. His post read: “After an arduous night spent in handcuffs and receiving brutal treatment at a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now on his way home to reunite with his loved ones.” This heartening update was shared on X on Tuesday.

Titled “No Other Land,” this collaborative work of an Israeli-Palestinian collective, featuring Abraham, Ballal, Basel Adra, and Rachel Szor, narrates the struggles of a Palestinian family residing in the West Bank. The Israeli government’s demolition of their home forces them to face displacement. However, amidst these challenging circumstances, the unlikely bond between Adra, a Palestinian artist, and Abraham, an Israeli journalist, unfolds as they join hands to chronicle this heartrending tale.

The movie made its debut at Berlin Film Festival last year, winning both jury’s top award for documentaries and audience favorite prize. Subsequently, it received more critical recognition during the fall festival season, screening at Toronto, Vancouver, and New York film festivals. However, no U.S. distributor has been found yet, causing the filmmakers to independently release the movie in New York City on January 31 and Los Angeles on February 7.

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2025-03-26 14:47