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Israeli prosecutors have charged settler Yinon Levi over the killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in Umm al-Khair. The rare indictment has intensified scrutiny of settler violence and Israel's accountability record in the West Bank.
Jerusalem,UPDATED: Aug 6, 2026 16:02 IST
Israeli prosecutors on Thursday charged a settler over the killing of Palestinian community leader and activist Awdah Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank, according to an indictment filed in district court. Prosecutors accused Yinon Levi of reckless manslaughter in Hathaleen's death in July 2025.
The indictment also charges Levi with armed trespassing and malicious property damage. The case is significant because it is extremely rare for Israel to charge settlers over violence against Palestinians, with Israeli rights group B'Tselem saying this is the first time since October 7, 2023 that an Israeli has been indicted for the death of a Palestinian in the West Bank.
According to the indictment, Levi, who lives in the south of the West Bank, faces a charge that carries a lesser punishment than murder under Israeli law. B'Tselem said that since October 7, 2023, Israeli settlers and soldiers have killed at least 1,100 Palestinians in the territory.
Levi's lawyer, Avichay Hajbi, did not confirm whether an indictment had been handed down, but told The Associated Press that the prosecution had made a "mistaken decision". He said the defence would respond to the accusations in court.
Levi was seen in video footage shooting at crowds of Palestinians in Hathaleen's village of Umm al-Khair on the day the activist was killed. Witnesses said one of the shots fired by Levi hit Hathaleen, who was standing metres away. One video showed Levi firing two shots, while another, which family members said was filmed by Hathaleen himself, showed Levi firing towards the person holding the camera. The footage then cuts, but the person can still be heard moaning in pain.
Hathaleen was a prominent voice against settler violence and was involved in the 2025 Oscar-winning film "No Other Land", which chronicled the struggle of Palestinian residents to protect their homes and villages. A teacher and father of three, he often hosted international activists and dignitaries at his home. His public profile and the videos of the alleged shooting led to global calls for Levi's prosecution.
Levi was among the Israeli settlers sanctioned by the United States and other Western countries in 2024 over allegations of violence against Palestinians. US President Donald Trump lifted the American sanctions after taking office the following year. The indictment now brings formal charges against Levi over Hathaleen's killing, in a case that has drawn attention in Israel and abroad.
With PTI Inputs
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Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Aug 6, 2026 16:02 IST
