My Oscar-winning film exposed violent Israeli settlers. Now they’re the soldiers

My Oscar-winning film exposed violent Israeli settlers. Now they’re the soldiers

Author: The Times May 13, 2025 Duration: 26:15

In March this year, a team of Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers accepted the Oscar for best documentary. Their film No Other Land is a glimpse into the reality of life in the West Bank, the most populous of the Palestinian Territories. Before the month was out, though, one of the people on that stage - co-director Hamdan Ballal - would return home to the West Bank and be attacked and detained by Israeli settlers and soldiers. Times reporter Venetia Menzies went to meet Hamdan and his co-director and star of the documentary, Basel Adra, to find out what life is like now for Palestinians in the West Bank. 


This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Venetia Menzies, ​​assistant data editor at The Times and The Sunday Times

Host: Luke Jones 

Producer: Hannah Varrall

Further reading: https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/palestinian-film-director-oscar-israeli-settlers-q62756r9v 

Clips: Oscars, No Other Land, CBS Chicago, France 24 English, Hollywood Reporter.

Photo: Basel Adra (Venetia Menzies)

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com  

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 108

The Story
Podcast Episodes
Investigation: The leaseholders hung out to dry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:49
Not many feelings come close to the thrill of getting your foot on the property ladder after months of mortgages, solicitors and surveys. But what happens when things start to go wrong? The Sunday Times has been investig…
Britain's overflowing cemeteries: How to solve a grave problem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:53
There's a looming crisis in the cemeteries of Britain: many of them are running out of space. How have we got here and what can we do about it?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times…
Three incredible tales of scientific progress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:51
Extraordinary scientific advances have taken place over the past year both because of Covid and despite it.Today we bring you three tales of human ingenuity you might have missed – and, for a change, nothing but good new…
The Suez Canal: What happened when a ship got stuck? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:37
After the Ever Given vessel was freed earlier this week, the world breathed a huge sigh of relief. But what does this incident tell us about international trade and globalisation?This podcast was brought to you thanks to…
The Covid superstitions putting people with albinism at risk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:18
In sub-Saharan Africa, people with albinism – those born without pigmentation in their skin, hair and eyes – have long been discriminated against and even hunted for their body parts, which are thought to hold magical he…
Police, protest and Priti Patel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:16
Tensions between the police and communities across the UK are at an all time high. One woman is behind the push to increase police powers. Who is Priti Patel and what's her plan for Britain?This podcast was brought to yo…
The rape culture crisis in Britain's elite private schools [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:37
Around the country, girls who have suffered in silence for years at some of England's top schools are finally speaking out about the sexual abuse they've encountered. A stream of hundreds of harrowing stories has emerged…
Peer pressure: Time for change in the House of Lords? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:42
Is it time to rethink the way British democracy works and reform the upper chamber of parliament?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get…
British cycling: A doctor, drugs & a scandal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:55
Last week the former Team GB and Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman was struck off the medical register after being found guilty of ordering a banned substance “knowing or believing” it was to dope a rider in 2011.This podc…
Revisiting old friends after a year of Covid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:23
This week marks a year since the Covid lockdown began. Every aspect of our daily life has been affected and more than 146,000 people have died of the virus in the UK. In today's episode, we check in with old friends we'v…