The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has issued an apology for its response to an attack on the Oscar-winning filmmaker Hamdan Ballal following pressure from voting members. Hundreds of Academy members have criticized the awards body for not acknowledging Ballal by name in its initial statement shared after the Palestinian director said he had been attacked by Israeli settlers and detained by soldiers in the West Bank earlier this week.

After mounting criticism following its initial response to the violent attack on Oscar-winning “No Other Land” co-director Hamdan Ballal, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences apologized Friday for not acknowledging Ballal by name.

The apology came after over 600 members criticised the academy’s response to Hamdan Ballal’s claim that he was attacked by Israelis.