Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, who was reportedly beaten by Israeli settlers and then arrested yesterday (March 24), has been freed, according to his co-director.
As reported by Deadline, Yuval Abraham, who directed the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land alongside Ballal, posted on X/Twitter earlier today (March 25) that, “After being handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now free and is about to go home to his family.”
This comes after reports emerged yesterday that Ballal had been attacked by Israeli settlers at his house, before being detained by military forces.
After being handcuffed all night and beaten in a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now free and is about to go home to his family.
— Yuval Abraham יובל אברהם (@yuval_abraham) March 25, 2025
The Guardian cited five Jewish American activists who witnessed the incident, who said that Ballal was “surrounded and attacked by a group of about 15 armed settlers in Susya in the Masafer Yatta area south of Hebron”.
According to the witnesses, the settlers started throwing stones towards Ballal and other Palestinians, destroying a nearby water tank and Ballal’s car. A group of soldiers and settlers dressed in military uniform then arrived at the scene, who chased Ballal before he was eventually arrested.
Abraham had shared the news on X yesterday. He wrote: “A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co director of our film no other land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.”
A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co director of our film no other land. They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.
— Yuval Abraham יובל אברהם (@yuval_abraham) March 24, 2025
Then, in a reply to his original post, Abraham wrote: “Note: Hamdan was assaulted and beaten up, not murdered. My use of ‘lynched’ was a mistranslation from Hebrew (English isn’t my first language). He’s injured and being held at a police station in a settlement. They did not let his lawyer speak to him yet so we don’t know more.”
Ballal directed No Other Land alongside Abraham, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor. The film chronicles the demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank between 2019 and 2023, and won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 ceremony earlier this month.
Speaking to The Guardian, Adra said: “Palestinians in the village have been under physical attack by settlers almost daily. The settlers’ violence is increasing here. Maybe it’s a revenge for the movie and the Oscar.”
Beaten savagely by illegal Israel “settlers” and when the ambulance arrived to help him he was abducted by the IDF.
This is Palestine every single day. A total and brutal occupation on every level imaginable.
FUCK US-BACKED ISRAEL pic.twitter.com/KAn0VUMSlZ
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) March 24, 2025
In a statement to Sky News, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that on the evening of March 24, “several terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli citizens, damaging their vehicles near Susya”, and a violent confrontation broke out which involved “mutual rock-hurling between Palestinians and Israelis at the scene”.
They continued: “IDF and Israeli Police forces arrived to disperse the confrontation, at this point, several terrorists began hurling rocks at the security forces.”
“In response, the forces apprehended three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at them, as well as an Israeli civilian involved in the violent confrontation. The detainees were taken for further questioning by the Israel police. An Israeli citizen was injured in the incident and was evacuated to receive medical treatment.
“Contrary to claims, no Palestinian was apprehended from inside an ambulance.”
Many in the entertainment world have shared the story online, and called for Ballal’s release. Kneecap reacted with a post on X that read: “Beaten savagely by illegal Israel “settlers” and when the ambulance arrived to help him he was abducted by the IDF.”
The latter claim is disputed by the IDF’s statement above.
They continued: “This is Palestine every single day. A total and brutal occupation on every level imaginable. FUCK US-BACKED ISRAEL.” The Irish rap trio have repeatedly spoken out against the conflict in Gaza, most recently hitting out at Israel after the breaking of the ceasefire last week (March 21).
In their Cover feature for NME last year, KNEECAP also made a stance against what they called Israel’s “occupation and genocide” of Gaza. They also helped raise nearly £100,000 for a volunteer gym in the Aida Refugee Camp in Palestine, and loudly broadcast their message via social media and high-profile TV appearances.