Palestinian Oscar-winning director Basel Adra reported that Israeli soldiers raided his home in the West Bank on Saturday, searching for him and examining his wife’s phone. Adra informed The Associated Press that during this time, Israeli settlers attacked his village, injuring two of his brothers and one cousin. He accompanied them to the hospital and learned from family members that nine Israeli soldiers had stormed his residence.
The soldiers reportedly asked his wife, Suha, about his whereabouts while their 9-month-old daughter was also present in the home. Additionally, one of his uncles was briefly detained in the incident. By Saturday night, Adra was unable to return home due to soldiers blocking the village entrance, fearing that he might be detained.
The Israeli military claimed that their presence in the village was a response to Palestinians throwing rocks, which resulted in injuries to two Israeli civilians. They stated that their forces remained in the area to conduct searches and interrogations.
Adra, who has dedicated his career to documenting settler violence in Masafer Yatta, expressed feelings of increased targeting since winning the Oscar for his documentary “No Other Land.” He described the recent events as “horrific,” emphasizing that even when simply filming settlers, the army pursues them, searching homes and spreading fear.
Another co-director, Yuval Abraham, expressed concern for Adra, noting a repeated pattern of violence where Israeli settlers attack Palestinian villages, followed by military aggression towards those affected.
The documentary “No Other Land,” which won an Oscar for Best Documentary, chronicles the struggle of residents in the Masafer Yatta region to prevent the Israeli military from destroying their villages. The film, co-produced by Adra and his colleagues, has received numerous international accolades, beginning with an award at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2024. However, it has also faced backlash, such as when Miami Beach considered terminating the lease of a theater screening the film.
Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 Mideast war along with Gaza and East Jerusalem. Palestinians seek these territories for their future state, viewing settlement expansion as a significant barrier to achieving a two-state solution. Over 100 settlements have been established, housing more than 500,000 Israeli citizens. The approximately 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank live under long-standing Israeli military governance, with the Palestinian Authority managing population centers.
Masafer Yatta, designated as a live-fire training zone by the Israeli military in the 1980s, has witnessed ongoing efforts to expel its largely Arab Bedouin residents. While around 1,000 people remain, demolitions of homes, tents, water tanks, and olive orchards are commonplace, fueling fears of imminent displacement.
Amid the ongoing conflict, Israel’s military operations in the West Bank have led to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians, accompanied by a noticeable increase in settler assaults on Palestinian communities. Meanwhile, the situation has also seen a rise in Palestinian attacks against Israelis.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/world/oscar-winning-palestinian-director-basel-adra-home-west-bank-raided-israeli-soldiers-10248634/
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Publish Date: 2025-09-14 05:00:00
