Academy Criticized for Silence on Hamdan Ballal’s Assault
Filmmaker Yuval Abraham has publicly criticized the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its lack of support for Hamdan Ballal, who was recently subjected to violence and arrest in the West Bank. Abraham, one of the co-directors of the acclaimed documentary No Other Land, which just won an Oscar, expressed his concerns via social media, spotlighting the troubling incident involving Ballal.
According to reports, Ballal was assaulted by a group of Israeli settlers in his home village of Susiya, leading to his detainment. Eyewitnesses reported a terrifying scene, with one noting, “a pool of blood”outside Ballal’s residence. Alongside him, two other Palestinians, Khaled Mohammad Shanran and Nasser Shreteh, were also arrested under similar circumstances.
After a night of interrogation by Israeli police, Abraham later shared that Ballal had been released. However, his release was overshadowed by the Oscar-winning documentary director’s dismay at the Academy’s decision to remain silent on the incident. In a heartfelt post on X, Abraham lamented that the esteemed organization refused to issue a statement supporting Ballal during such a critical time.
“It’s disheartening,” Abraham stated, “that the U.S. Academy, which honored us just weeks prior, turned a blind eye to Hamdan’s assault and torture at the hands of Israeli settlers and soldiers.” He noted that while other international bodies and festivals expressed solidarity, the Academy opted not to act. “Many members, particularly from the documentary branch, advocated for a statement, but it was ultimately turned down,” he elaborated. “They felt it was unrelated to the film since other Palestinians were also victims of the same attack.”
Abraham continued, emphasizing that Ballal was specifically targeted due to his filmmaking efforts related to No Other Land. He recounted how, during the assault, soldiers mocked him by referencing the recently awarded Oscar. “Hamdan’s identity as a Palestinian, alongside the assault linked to his work, appears to have provided the Academy with an excuse to remain silent when their support was most needed,” he added.
In light of these circumstances, Abraham urged the Academy to reconsider its stance: “It’s never too late to speak out. A statement condemning the violence against Hamdan and the Masafer Yatta community would convey an important message and could potentially deter future incidents.”
The Academy did not provide an immediate response to inquiries from The Hollywood Reporter regarding this issue.
In contrast to Abraham’s allegations, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement suggesting that the situation was sparked by “several terrorists hurling rocks at Israeli citizens,” leading to reciprocal violence. Both the IDF and local police confirmed the detention of three Palestinians amid the conflict.
This controversy unfolds following the recognition of No Other Land, a collaboration between two Israeli and two Palestinian filmmakers, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2.