Israel charges settler over killing of Palestinian involved in Oscar-winning West Bank film

Israeli authorities have indicted a settler, Yinon Levy, for the July 2025 shooting death of Palestinian activist Odeh Hathaleen in the West Bank. The 52-year-old Levy faces charges of reckless manslaughter, armed trespassing, and malicious property damage. According to prosecutors, Levy fired shots during a confrontation with residents in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair, resulting in Hathaleen's death.

Israel's Southern District Prosecutor's Office stated that this is the first indictment of an Israeli for killing a Palestinian in the West Bank in nearly three years. The Palestinian rights group B'Tselem hailed the decision as a positive development, marking a shift in the consequences faced by settlers for violent actions against Palestinians.

Hathaleen, a teacher and father of three, was a prominent advocate against settler violence and appeared in the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," which documented the legal battle over Masafer Yatta, a West Bank village. In a statement to The Associated Press, Levy's lawyer, Avichai Hajbi, claimed the prosecution had made a "mistaken decision" and accused them of supporting terrorism.

Levy intends to challenge the charges in court. Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which triggered the Gaza war, at least 1,110 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers, according to the UN. Additionally, 41 Israelis have been killed during the same period by Palestinian armed groups or civilians.

Israel's advocacy group B'Tselem called the indictment a "turning point" in the justice system and emphasized that the ruling demonstrates the need for accountability in situations where soldiers and settlers harm Palestinians. Mattan Berner-Kadish, an Israeli-American activist present at the scene, expressed mixed emotions, noting that while the indictment is a step forward, the maximum sentence should be longer.