Academy Criticized for Silence on Director Ballal's Attack

Co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land,' Yuval Abraham and Basel Adra, have publicly criticized the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for failing to support their colleague Hamdan Ballal, who was attacked by Israeli settlers and subsequently detained by Israeli forces. Abraham highlighted that despite calls from various Academy members for a public statement, the Academy declined to respond, citing the incident as unrelated to the film because other Palestinians were also involved. Ballal's release came after he was reportedly beaten and tortured, with soldiers mocking his Oscar win during the incident. The European Film Academy and other organizations have voiced their support for Ballal, contrasting sharply with the Academy's silence. Abraham urged the Academy to reconsider its stance and issue a statement condemning the violence against Ballal, emphasizing the need for solidarity when a filmmaker they honored faces such adversity. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions and violence in the region, particularly towards Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.