Israel charges West Bank settler over death of renowned Palestinian activist
Yinon Levi faces trial for reckless manslaughter related to the 2025 killing of Awdah Hathaleen
TL;DR
- Yinon Levi, an Israeli settler, has been charged with reckless manslaughter for the death of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank.
- This is the first indictment of a settler for killing a Palestinian in nearly three years, occurring after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.
- The incident leading to Hathaleen's death involved settlers operating an excavator in the village of Umm al-Khair, resulting in a confrontation and Hathaleen being shot.
- Hathaleen was a prominent activist featured in the documentary 'No Other Land'.
- Levi has previously denied firing the shot that killed Hathaleen and has faced sanctions from the UK and EU for violence against Palestinians.
- B'Tselem, an Israeli rights group, stated that the indictment is an exception to the general impunity granted to soldiers and settlers harming Palestinians.
- UN data indicates that at least 1,100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank since October 7, 2023.
- Settlements in the West Bank, captured by Israel in 1967, are considered illegal under international law by most countries and UN bodies.