No Other Land Collaborator Killed by Israeli Settler
Oscar-Winning Documentary Team Faces Harassment and deportation
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San Francisco, CA – Members of the team behind the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land” have recently faced critically important challenges, including deportation and physical assault, highlighting the ongoing struggles of Palestinians in their homeland and the international attention their plight garners.
Palestinian Filmmakers Detained and deported from SFO
Last month, Basel Adra and another Palestinian man, both associated with the acclaimed film, were denied entry, detained overnight, and afterward deported back to the West Bank upon their arrival at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The association Hathaleen, which had invited them to speak at an interfaith gathering, shared the news with their Instagram followers, expressing deep sorrow and solidarity.
“So many in our community knew Awdah, and gained so much by learning from him, and being his friend,” the organization stated, emphasizing the personal impact of their absence. their message concluded with a powerful call to action: “May Awdah’s memory be a revolution. May we see justice for Awdah, and justice for all Palestinians, within our lifetime.”
“no Other Land” Team Member Attacked by Israeli Settlers
The challenges faced by the “No Other Land” team extend beyond airport detentions. Earlier this year, in March, Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, another integral member of the Oscar-winning documentary’s team, was brutally attacked by Israeli settlers. The incident occurred in the village of Susiya, located in the masafer Yatta area.
According to reports from the Associated Press,settlers,some masked,armed with guns,and wearing military uniforms,assaulted Ballal and other Palestinian residents as they were breaking their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ballal was reportedly beaten in the head and stomach.
Following the attack, Israeli military and police forces detained Ballal on suspicion of hurling rocks at IDF and police. He was released the following day,visibly bruised with blood on his clothes.His wife shared that her husband recounted hearing “the voice of soldiers laughing at me” during his detention. She also expressed her belief that the increased international attention surrounding “No Other Land’s” Oscar win may have emboldened settlers to “attack us more.”
The Impact of ”No Other Land” and the Ongoing Conflict
The harrowing documentary “No Other Land” sheds light on Israel’s demolition of Palestinian villages in Masafer Yatta and the subsequent displacement of their communities to make way for Israeli military training grounds. The film itself has become a focal point of controversy, including an incident earlier this year in Miami Beach where a theater initially faced threats for screening the documentary.
The broader context of these events is the ongoing conflict in the region. As Israel launched its war against Hamas nearly two years ago, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported on Tuesday that over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed.In the preceding 24 hours alone, at least 77 individuals lost their lives, many while searching for food.
The experiences of Adra, Ballal, and the wider community highlighted by “No Other Land” underscore the persistent challenges faced by Palestinians and the critical role of documentary filmmaking in bringing these realities to a global audience.The Associated Press contributed to this report.