A Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” was attacked by Israeli settlers and detained by the army in the occupied West Bank. Hamdan Ballal, one of three Palestinians held, was beaten outside his home before being taken to a military base for medical treatment, according to fellow director Basel Adra.
Settler attacks on Palestinians have become increasingly common, with many fearing retaliation against filmmakers who expose these incidents. “This might be their revenge on us for making the movie,” Adra said, suggesting that the attack could be related to the film’s portrayal of Israeli actions in the West Bank.
The documentary, which chronicles the struggle by residents of the Masafer Yatta area to stop the demolition of their villages, has won international awards but also drawn criticism. Israel has built over 100 settlements, home to over 500,000 settlers, and Palestinians fear that settlement growth is a major obstacle to a two-state solution.
The Israeli military designated Masafer Yatta as a live-fire training zone in the 1980s, ordering residents to be expelled. Around 1,000 residents have remained in place but face regular demolitions of their homes and property. The situation has led to tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, with settler attacks on Palestinians rising.
The incident highlights the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, with both sides claiming sovereignty over the same land. The documentary’s portrayal of these issues has sparked debate and criticism, but also raised awareness about the plight of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/no-other-land-oscar-israel-palestinians-084c63f33e748a3279646759e9b705c2