Yuval Abraham, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, has publicly criticized the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for declining to issue a statement condemning the recent assault and detention of his Palestinian colleague, Hamdan Ballal, in the occupied West Bank.
Ballal, one of four filmmakers behind the critically acclaimed documentary about displacement in Masafer Yatta, was arrested Monday night following a violent altercation in his village of Susiya. Witnesses reported that a group of settlers assaulted Ballal outside his home before Israeli forces detained him and two other Palestinians. Abraham shared graphic accounts of the incident online, including reports of bloodstains at the scene and allegations that soldiers mocked Ballal's recent Oscar win during the interrogation.
While Ballal was released after 24 hours, Abraham revealed that appeals to the Academy for public support were rejected. "We were told that because other Palestinians were attacked in the same incident, it could be seen as unrelated to the film," Abraham stated. He countered this rationale, asserting that Ballal was "clearly targeted both for making the film and for being Palestinian," citing the soldiers' taunts about the documentary during the detention.
The Academy's silence stands in stark contrast to the European Film Academy and multiple international festivals, which swiftly condemned the attack. Abraham emphasized that numerous Academy members, particularly within the documentary branch, privately advocated for a statement. "When a filmmaker you honored needs protection under occupation, neutrality becomes complicity," he argued, urging the organization to reconsider its stance as a deterrent against future violence.
Israeli authorities offered a conflicting narrative, claiming the incident began when Palestinians threw rocks at settlers' vehicles, prompting a clash. The IDF acknowledged three Palestinian arrests but denied allegations of torture.
No Other Land, co-directed by two Israelis and two Palestinians, made history this month as the first collaborative project of its kind to win the Best Documentary Oscar. Its victory was hailed as a symbol of unity, but the Academy's response to Ballal's detention has reignited debates about institutional accountability. "Artistic recognition cannot exist in a vacuum," Abraham asserted. "If our award doesn't shield colleagues from violence, what does it truly celebrate?"
The Academy maintains a long-standing policy of avoiding commentary on issues outside its direct purview, though critics argue this stance falters when filmmakers face reprisals linked to their work. As Abraham noted: "Silence speaks louder than any Oscar statue ever could."