Oscars refused to issue statement in support of kidnapped Palestinian filmmaker, co-director claims

The Academy refused to issue a statement in support of kidnapped Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, claims Yuval Abraham, one of the co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.

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The Academy refused to issue a statement in support of kidnapped Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, claims Yuval Abraham, one of the co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.

Ballal was released by Israeli authorities on Tuesday (March 25) after Abraham wrote on X the day before that his co-director had gone missing after being attacked.

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“A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co-director of our film No Other Land,” Abraham wrote. “They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding. Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him. No sign of him since.”

Reports of Ballal’s attack and detainment sparked a petition calling for his release, as well as statements from organisations such as the International Documentary Association.

On Wednesday (March 26), Abraham criticised the Academy in a post on X for not issuing their own statement of support for Ballal.

“Sadly, the U.S. Academy, which awarded us an Oscar three weeks ago, declined to publicly support Hamdan Ballal while he was beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers and settlers,” he wrote.

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“The European Academy voiced support, as did countless other award groups and festivals. Several U.S. Academy members — especially in the documentary branch — pushed for a statement, but it was ultimately refused. We were told that because other Palestinians were beaten up in the settler attack, it could be considered unrelated to the film, so they felt no need to respond.”

Abraham continued: “In other words, while Hamdan was clearly targeted for making No Other Land (he recalled soldiers joking about the Oscar as they tortured him), he was also targeted for being Palestinian — like countless others every day who are disregarded. This, it seems, gave the Academy an excuse to remain silent when a filmmaker they honoured, living under Israeli occupation, needed them the most.

“It’s not too late to change this stance. Even now, issuing a statement condemning the attack on Hamdan and the Masafer Yatta community would send a meaningful message and serve as a deterrent for the future.”

The Academy has not yet issued a response to Abraham’s comments.

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Speaking to ABC News from hospital, Ballal said he is “afraid”, adding: “I feel, when they attack me, I will lose my life.” He also told the outlet that he was severely beaten at the hands of Jewish settlers at his home on Monday, just outside the village of Susiya.

“It was a hard, hard attack,” Ballal said. “You know, I feel I will die, because this attack was so hard, I bleed from everywhere. I’m crying from deeply in my heart. I feel pain everywhere in my body. So, they continue attacking me like 15-20 minutes,” he added, before also confirming the presence of  “soldiers with guns.”

Ballal directed No Other Land alongside Abraham, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor. The film chronicles the demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank between 2019 and 2023, and won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2025 ceremony earlier this month.

In a statement to Sky News, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that on the evening of March 24, “several terrorists hurled rocks at Israeli citizens, damaging their vehicles near Susya”, and a violent confrontation broke out which involved “mutual rock-hurling between Palestinians and Israelis at the scene”.

They continued: “IDF and Israeli Police forces arrived to disperse the confrontation, at this point, several terrorists began hurling rocks at the security forces.”

“In response, the forces apprehended three Palestinians suspected of hurling rocks at them, as well as an Israeli civilian involved in the violent confrontation. The detainees were taken for further questioning by the Israel police. An Israeli citizen was injured in the incident and was evacuated to receive medical treatment.

“Contrary to claims, no Palestinian was apprehended from inside an ambulance.”

Many in the entertainment world shared the story online, and called for Ballal’s release. Kneecap reacted with a post on X that read: “Beaten savagely by illegal Israel “settlers” and when the ambulance arrived to help him he was abducted by the IDF.”

The latter claim is disputed by the IDF’s statement above.

They continued: “This is Palestine every single day. A total and brutal occupation on every level imaginable. FUCK US-BACKED ISRAEL.” The Irish rap trio have repeatedly spoken out against the conflict in Gaza, most recently hitting out at Israel after the breaking of the ceasefire last week (March 21).

In their Cover feature for NME last year, KNEECAP also made a stance against what they called Israel’s “occupation and genocide” of Gaza. They also helped raise nearly £100,000 for a volunteer gym in the Aida Refugee Camp in Palestine, and loudly broadcast their message via social media and high-profile TV appearances.

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