No Other Land (2024) is a harrowing documentary that exposes the harsh realities faced by Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, a region in the southern West Bank. 

Directed by a collaborative team of Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers—Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor—it captures the systemic demolitions and forced expulsions carried out by Israeli forces between 2019 and 2023.

The documentary’s power lies in its raw, on-the-ground footage, much of it filmed by Adra, a resident of Masafer Yatta and a law school graduate. His approach offers an unfiltered view of the affected Palestinian communities’ daily struggles, strength, and heartbreak. Scenes of demolished homes, schools, and critical infrastructure reveal the cruelty inflicted on families, unjustly displaced and forced to shelter in caves with nowhere else to go. 

These moments highlight the systematic effort conducted by the IDF, Isreal Defence Forces, to seize land from innocent families who had been living peacefully in this region. 

The IDF shows up with bulldozers and armed soldiers ready to use against the shepherd communities, illustrating the disproportionate violence wielded against these vulnerable groups.

Despite the tragedy, the film also finds space to highlight tender moments of solidarity and resistance among the villagers, painting a vivid picture of life under occupation.

A key narrative thread is the profound friendship between Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham. Their collaboration underscores the possibility of unity amidst division, adding a deeply personal dimension to the story. Together, they document and resist the injustices faced by the Palestinian community, embodying the power of solidarity in the face of systemic oppression.

No Other Land is a poignant testament to the resilience of the Palestinian people in Masafer Yatta. Its storytelling informs and challenges viewers to confront the ongoing injustices these communities have faced for years.

The title resonates powerfully—these families have no other land to turn to way before the war that began on October 7, 2023.

The film underscores the fact that Israeli actions in the region have long perpetuated suffering and displacement. 

Israeli cruelty started earlier than that date.

I had the chance to watch this documentary at IDFA 2024, where the directors participated in a moving Q&A session. Basel Adra’s profound cynicism over the lack of Western intervention to halt Israeli brutality was deeply affecting his words, reflecting one of the driving forces behind his decision to document these events in the first place.

No Other Land is a vital piece of cinema that demands global attention and action, shedding light on the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the enduring struggles of the Palestinian people.