Oscar Winner Basel Adra’s Chilling Report: “My Brother Attacked by Settlers, My House Occupied by the IDF”
A Palestinian filmmaker’s home becomes a battleground. Basel Adra, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, shares a harrowing account of settler violence and military occupation in the West Bank. His words expose the raw human cost of escalating tensions.
The Incident Unfolds in Susya
The events hit close to home for Basel Adra. On September 13, 2025, Israeli settlers stormed the village of Susya in the occupied West Bank. Adra’s brother suffered injuries in the assault. Hours later, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) raided Adra’s family home, turning it into a temporary outpost.
Adra, 32, captured the chaos through his lens. His report details settlers hurling stones and torches at homes. Villagers fought back with what they had. The IDF arrived not to protect, but to search and occupy.
Susya sits in Area C of the West Bank. Israel controls this zone fully. The village has faced demolitions and expansions for years. Adra’s film No Other Land spotlights this struggle. It won the 2025 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Co-directed with Yuval Abraham, the movie chronicles land grabs and evictions.
Adra’s Personal Testimony
In a video statement, Adra speaks directly. “My brother attacked by the settlers,” he says. “They beat him badly. Then the IDF came to our house. They occupied it. Soldiers everywhere.” He describes fear gripping the family. Children hid as troops ransacked rooms.
Adra was not home. He learned of the raid through frantic calls. Fears mounted that soldiers might arrest him too. Israeli prisons hold thousands of Palestinians. Reports label them as sites of abuse.
The occupation lasted hours. IDF forces used the home as a base. They monitored the village from there. Settlers, some armed, lingered nearby. Adra’s report aligns with patterns in the region. Human Rights Watch documents over 1,200 settler attacks in 2025 alone.
Background: A Cycle of Violence in the West Bank
Tensions boil in the West Bank. Since October 2023, settler violence has surged. Over 700 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or settlers this year. The IDF often shields attackers, critics say.
Adra’s village exemplifies this. Susya lost 80% of its land to settlements. The film No Other Land follows Adra and Abraham over a decade. It shows demolitions, protests, and resilience. The Oscar win amplified their message. But it drew backlash. Adra received threats post-ceremony.
Israel’s military claims routine operations. They cite stone-throwing at civilians as justification. Adra counters: “We defend our homes. They attack first.”
Expert Opinions and Filmmaker’s Voice
Yuval Abraham, Adra’s co-director, broke the story on X. “Happening now: Israeli army raiding the house of Oscar winner Basel Adra,” he posted on September 13. Abraham fears abduction into “torture sites.” His post garnered 11,000 likes and 4,000 reposts.
Film experts praise Adra’s courage. Rachel Antell, a documentary producer, calls it “art meeting activism.” She notes the Oscar spotlights global injustices. Amnesty International urges protection for Adra. “Filmmakers documenting truth face reprisals,” a spokesperson said.
Adra remains defiant. “This is our land. Our story,” he told La Stampa. His report urges the world to watch.
Public Reactions: Outrage and Solidarity
Social media erupts. Posts in Spanish, Italian, and Arabic flood X. “Genocidas,” one user writes, sharing Adra’s words. Another: “No Other Land indeed—free Palestine.”
In Italy, La Stampa runs a video feature. It hits 1,700 views quickly. Euronews reports settler intrusion, sparking 100 shares. Spanish outlets like Pagina12 amplify: “El Ejercito israelí ocupó la casa.”
Global voices join. ADAM Media calls Israel an “apartheid state.” Supporters trend #SaveBaselAdra. Israeli critics, like Abraham, face heat too. Yet solidarity grows.
Impact on U.S. Readers: From Screens to Streets
For Americans, Adra’s story resonates. The U.S. funds Israel with $3.8 billion yearly in aid. Tax dollars tie into West Bank dynamics. Protests on campuses demand accountability.
Economically, it spotlights boycotts. BDS targets settlement goods. U.S. consumers push for labels on products from occupied lands.
Lifestyle shifts emerge. Documentaries like No Other Land stream on platforms. Viewers rethink travel, investments. Politics heats up. Biden’s administration faces pressure amid 2024 election echoes.
Technologically, social media amplifies voices. X posts reach millions. It empowers filmmakers like Adra to bypass traditional gates.
Culturally, the Oscar win bridges divides. Hollywood figures like Mark Ruffalo repost. It fosters empathy, urging action.
Conclusion: A Call from the Frontlines
Basel Adra’s report lays bare the terror: settlers’ fury, IDF boots in his home. It underscores No Other Land‘s urgency—evictions aren’t abstract.
As raids continue, Adra’s voice endures. Future outlooks dim without intervention. International probes could help. For now, his words demand: See us. Act.
For updates, follow Adra and Abraham. The story of Susya is America’s story too—injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere.
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