Yuval Abraham, a co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, said on March 25, 2025, that Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal had been freed after being attacked and detained in the occupied West Bank. The Associated Press later reported that Ballal was released after more than 20 hours in detention.
What was reported about Ballal’s release?
Rolling Stone UK reported Abraham’s announcement on March 25, 2025. The Associated Press subsequently confirmed that Ballal had been released, reporting that he had spent more than 20 hours in detention. Channel 4, which identified Ballal as a co-director of No Other Land, had expressed concern over reports that he was injured and detained.
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AP’s initial account, published March 24, described an attack and detention in Susiya, in the occupied West Bank. The release followed that incident; it was not a separate event.
What is known—and disputed—about the incident?
AP’s reporting attributed accounts of the assault to witnesses and fellow directors. It also reported that Ballal and two other Palestinians denied allegations that they had thrown stones. Those allegations and denials should be understood as claims by the parties, not as established findings in the reporting.
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The March 25 announcement came from Abraham, Ballal’s fellow director, while AP’s later report provided independent confirmation of the release and further details about the detention. These are distinct parts of the account: the announcement is attributed to Abraham, and the duration of detention is reported by AP.
How did the Academy respond?
On March 29, 2025, AP reported that the Academy apologized for not naming Ballal in an earlier response. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang said: “We sincerely apologize to Mr. Ballal and all artists who felt unsupported by our previous statement and want to make it clear that the academy condemns violence of this kind anywhere in the world.” They also said: “We abhor the suppression of free speech under any circumstances.”
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Later reports describe separate incidents
Reports published on February 16, 2026, concern later events, not the March 2025 detention. Al Jazeera reported Ballal’s account that attacks in Masafer Yatta had intensified. The Wrap separately reported his claim that family members were attacked and his brother was hospitalized. These accounts are attributed to Ballal and should not be folded into the earlier report of his release.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the story drew attention
Ballal is a Palestinian filmmaker and co-director of No Other Land, the Oscar-winning documentary. His detention therefore drew attention both as an incident affecting a filmmaker and as a matter raised by fellow directors and the Academy. The available accounts establish the reported release and the competing descriptions of the incident; they do not resolve the disputed stone-throwing allegation.
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