News|Israel-Palestine conflictOne year on, No Other Land co-director says Israeli attacks intensifyingOscar-winning director Hamdan Ballal says his family was attacked despite an Israeli court ruling in their favour.

Nearly a year after the Palestinian-Israeli film No Other Land was awarded an Academy Award for Best Documentary, co-director Hamdan Ballal reports increased Israeli settler attacks on the occupied West Bank villages of Masafer Yatta. Individuals involved in the documentary have been subjected to intensified reprisals.

On Sunday, Israeli settlers entered Ballal’s hometown of Susya, contravening an Israeli court ruling that designated the area around his home as restricted to non-residents. Despite the ruling, Israeli army officers did not enforce the restriction and instead supported the settlers.

The court decision, intended to provide protection, has not been upheld. Ballal reported that Israeli authorities failed to enforce it, aligning instead with the settlers. During the incident, one of Ballal's brothers was restrained by an army officer, resulting in hospitalization. Four other relatives were detained for several hours but have since been released.

Ballal stated that retaliatory actions, initially directed at him, have shifted to targeting his family to avoid media attention. His family members have faced obstacles in their daily activities, such as grazing sheep and farming, and have been questioned about Ballal’s activities.

The documentary No Other Land , which won the Oscar on March 2, follows journalists Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham as they document efforts to protect Palestinian homes from settler actions in Masafer Yatta. Israeli filmmaker Rachel Szor also contributed to the project.

In the region, Israeli settlers often utilize Palestinian land to establish control and pave the way for illegal outposts, affecting Palestinian access to farms and livestock. The Israeli army has stated intentions to demolish Palestinian villages to create a military zone, though it did not respond to inquiries about the recent incident.

Israel's government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been advancing policies to extend Israeli authority over Palestinian territories. A recent initiative resumed land registration processes for the first time since 1967, a move criticized by rights groups for potentially accelerating Palestinian dispossession and displacement in violation of international law.

The documentary has had significant repercussions for those involved. Basel Adra, featured in the film, experienced a raid on his home following clashes with settlers in his olive grove. Awdah Hathaleen, a consultant for the film, was shot and killed by an Israeli settler, becoming a symbol of non-violent resistance in the area.

Ballal describes ongoing attacks as leaving the Palestinian community in Masafer Yatta in a state of fear, emphasizing the fundamental right to safety and security for Palestinians in their homes. He expressed concern over the ineffectiveness of international law in protecting Palestinians, asserting the basic human right to live safely.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.