Israel indicts settler Yinon Levi for death of Awdah Hathaleen, featured in Oscar-winning doc 'No Other Land'

Israeli settler Yinon Levi has been indicted in Israel for the death of Awdah Hathaleen, a Palestinian from the West Bank who appeared in the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land.' Human rights organizations note this as the first indictment of its kind against a settler since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

The Ministry of Justice announced on X that Levi, 33, from Ma'on, is accused of firing a weapon during a confrontation while working on private property, leading to Hathaleen's death. The charges include involuntary manslaughter by negligence, trespassing, and intentional property damage. The indictment stems from events in July 2025 when Levi and other settlers reportedly entered Umm al-Kheir, a Palestinian village south of Hebron, with a bulldozer and began destroying property.

According to activists and villagers, the settlers' actions prompted some residents to throw stones. A settler then allegedly opened fire, hitting Hathaleen, 31, in the chest. He died hours later in a hospital. Palestinian communities near Umm al-Kheir frequently face settler violence, and Israeli forces regularly demolish homes and property. Violence in the West Bank has intensified significantly since the October 7 Hamas attack.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, establishing around 160 settlements housing over 750,000 settlers. These settlements, ranging from small outposts to fully developed communities, aim to expand Israeli influence. The approximately 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank live under Israeli military rule, with limited administrative power held by the Palestinian Authority. Settlement construction accelerated before the October 7 attacks, further reducing the territory available to Palestinians and diminishing prospects for an independent state. The International Court of Justice has previously ruled Israel's presence in the occupied territories illegal and demanded an immediate halt to settlement construction.