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July 31, 2025 – Palestine –
Awdah Hathaleen, a 31-year-old Palestinian activist and educator, was shot and killed by an Israeli settler on July 28, 2025, in the village of Umm al-Khair in the occupied West Bank. Hathaleen was a key figure in the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, which highlighted the experiences of Palestinians facing displacement and settler violence in Masafer Yatta. His death has sparked outrage across the Palestinian territories and international human rights circles.
According to eyewitnesses and footage, the settler—identified as Yinon Levi, a figure previously sanctioned by the United States, European Union, and Canada for settler violence—arrived with a bulldozer and began destroying property. When residents protested and threw stones, Levi reportedly opened fire. Hathaleen, who was not part of the confrontation, was standing at a distance when he was fatally shot in the chest. He died hours later in the hospital.
Israeli authorities briefly detained Levi but released him to house arrest, triggering widespread condemnation. In contrast, four of Hathaleen’s relatives and two international activists were arrested at the scene and remain in Israeli custody. Filmmaker Yuval Abraham, who co-directed No Other Land, condemned the response, describing it as evidence of a two-tier legal system that protects settlers while punishing Palestinians.
Hathaleen, known for his peaceful resistance and deep commitment to his community, was the father of three children. He had worked closely with international filmmakers and human rights groups to document settler violence and the demolition of Palestinian homes. His death follows years of growing settler impunity in the West Bank, where violent incidents have surged since October 2023.
The French foreign ministry labeled the killing as “terrorism,” while Amnesty International called for Levi’s immediate prosecution, describing the case as emblematic of broader state-enabled settler violence. Hathaleen’s death has intensified calls for international accountability mechanisms and greater protection for Palestinians under occupation.
His killing marks yet another tragic loss for a community long struggling for recognition, safety, and justice, and raises urgent concerns about the lack of consequences for settler violence in the West Bank.
Reference –
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/29/middleeast/israeli-settler-odeh-hathalin-west-bank-oscar-intl
