Academy Faces Criticism for Not Supporting Hamdan Ballal After West Bank Detention

Filmmaker Yuval Abraham has called out the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its silence regarding the recent assault and detention of his fellow co-director Hamdan Ballal, who was attacked in the West Bank. Ballal, who co-directed the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land,' was reportedly beaten by settlers and later taken into custody by Israeli police, though he has since been released. Abraham criticized the Academy for not issuing a statement of support, noting that while European organizations condemned the attack, the U.S. Academy refused, citing a rationale that the incident was unrelated to the film. He emphasized that Ballal was targeted not only for his work on the film but also for being Palestinian, a sentiment echoed by other members of the documentary community who sought a response from the Academy. Abraham urged the Academy to reconsider its stance and publicly denounce the violence against Ballal and the Palestinian community. The situation highlights ongoing tensions and the challenges faced by filmmakers working in conflict zones.