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US Academy declined to publicly support Oscar-winning director arrested by Israel

26 March 2025 14:44 GMT

Yuval Abraham, a journalist and filmmaker who recently won an Oscar for No Other Land, said the awards' American organisers refused to publicly support his Palestinian co-director who was arrested and abused earlier this week. 

"Sadly, the US 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. The European Academy voiced support, as did countless other award groups and festivals," said Abraham.

"Several US 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."

Ballal's whereabouts were briefly unknown after Israeli soldiers seized him from the ambulance that arrived to treat him, Abraham said earlier this week. The Palestinian director was released on Tuesday.

Ballal said he was clearly targeted for making the film, and recalled soldiers joking about the Oscars while they physically assaulted him. 

"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," wrote Abraham.