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In brief
- The death of Awdah Hathaleen drew particular attention due to his involvement in the Oscar-winning film No Other Land.
- Footage of his alleged killing by settler Yinon Levi was captured on video.
In a significant move, Israeli prosecutors have announced their intention to charge a settler in connection with the killing of a Palestinian activist. This development marks a rare legal action against violence perpetrated by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, a region fraught with tension and conflict.
The incident, which resulted in the death of Awdah Hathaleen in July, has garnered widespread attention. Hathaleen was not only a Palestinian activist but also featured in the 2025 Oscar-winning film “No Other Land,” which poignantly depicted the struggle of Palestinian villagers to remain on their ancestral land. This tragic event has highlighted the increasing frequency of settler attacks and home demolitions by authorities over the past two years.
A distinguishing feature of this case is the existence of video evidence capturing the confrontation between the Palestinians and Yinon Levi, the settler in question. Levi, who is subject to international sanctions, was recorded from multiple angles during the encounter.
One of the videos, reportedly filmed by Hathaleen himself, shows Levi firing shots in the direction of the person holding the camera. A separate video captures Levi discharging his weapon twice, though it does not reveal where the bullets landed.
This prosecution could set a precedent in addressing settler violence, underscoring the need for accountability in a region where such incidents often go unpunished.
An Israeli judge released Levi from custody six months ago, citing a lack of evidence that he fired the shots that killed Hathaleen.
Israel’s State Attorney General’s office confirmed in a statement on Monday that it had initiated proceedings to indict Levi.
It did not specify the charges.
Eitan Peleg, an attorney for Hathaleen’s family, said the office had informed them it planned to indict Levi for reckless homicide, triggering a process that allows Levi to contest charges before they are formally filed.
“Enforcement of the law in cases like this involving Palestinians in the West Bank is very rare, so this is unique,” Peleg told The Associated Press on Monday.
Israel’s military referred questions on the indictment to the police, who have not yet responded. Both bodies enforce laws in the area.
More than 3.4 million Palestinians and 700,000 Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 and sought by Palestinians for a future state.
The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement construction in these areas to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.
Palestinians and rights groups say authorities routinely fail to prosecute settlers or hold them accountable for violence.
Under National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, investigations into settler attacks have plummeted, according to the Israeli rights group Yesh Din.
Khalil Hathaleen, Awdah’s brother, said the family was glad some measure of justice was being pursued, but felt the charge of “reckless homicide” was insufficient.
“It was an intentional killing in broad daylight, with prior intent and premeditation,” he said.
Levi’s attorney, Avichai Hajbi, declined on Monday to comment on the coming indictment, which he said he had not received.
After the shooting, he told The Associated Press that Levi acted in self-defence, without elaborating. Levi did not answer phone calls on Monday.
— With reporting by the Associated Press via the Australian Associated Press.
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