Israel charges settler in killing of Palestinian activist

An Israeli settler faces charges for the murder of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank. This marks the first such indictment since the Gaza war began in 2023, according to activists. Yinon Eliya Levi, 33, from Ma on, has been charged with allegedly firing at a crowd during a dispute over land on private property, leading to Hathaleen's death.

The Southern District Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against him on charges of reckless manslaughter, trespassing, and willful property damage. Hathaleen, a filmmaker who worked on the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," was killed in July 2025 during an attack by settlers on his village of Umm al-Khair in the southern West Bank.

Umm al-Kheir is located in the Masafer Yatta region, where Palestinians have frequently faced settler violence and military home demolitions. Israeli rights group B Tselem claims this indictment is the first of its kind for a Palestinian's killing in the West Bank since the Gaza war began on October 2023, indicating a surge in violence.

B Tselem's spokesman, Yair Dvir, described the indictment as the exception that proves the rule, criticizing Israel for fostering a culture of impunity. Hathaleen's attorney, Eitan Peleg, hailed the decision as a significant step, hoping it sets a precedent for future crimes against Palestinians in Palestine. Palestinian rights group Al-Haq conducted a forensic investigation, finding footage of Levi shooting at a crowd in Umm al-Khair on the day of his killing.

The US and EU had already placed sanctions on Levi in April 2024 due to past violent attacks on Palestinians. Excluding Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, about 500,000 Israeli settlers reside in the West Bank, home to three million Palestinians, with all settlements in the region deemed illegal under international law.