Israel indicts settler over killing of Palestinian activist

Israeli prosecutors have charged a settler in the killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank, in what rights groups say is an unusually rare indictment tied to settler violence during the Gaza war period.

The case centers on Yinon Eliya Levi, 33, from the settlement of Maon, according to Israel’s Ministry of Justice. In a statement posted on X, the ministry said he was charged with allegedly firing toward an area where people were present during a confrontation linked to earthworks on private land. Prosecutors filed charges including reckless manslaughter, trespassing and willful property damage.

Hathaleen was killed in July 2025 during a settler attack on his village of Umm al-Khair in the southern West Bank. He was also known for taking part in the production of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. His death drew attention to long-running tensions in Masafer Yatta, where Palestinian communities have faced settler attacks and demolitions carried out by the Israeli military.

B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights group, said the indictment was the first of its kind for the killing of a Palestinian in the West Bank since the war in Gaza began in October 2023. The group said the case stood out against a wider backdrop of accountability failures and rising violence in the territory.

In comments to AFP, B’Tselem spokesman Yair Dvir described the indictment as an exception rather than the norm, arguing that impunity remains deeply rooted. Hathaleen’s attorney, Eitan Peleg, called the decision important and said he hopes it will serve as a precedent in future cases involving violence by Israelis against Palestinians.

Umm al-Khair lies in Masafer Yatta, an area that has repeatedly been at the center of confrontation. Parts of the region have been designated by Israel as an army firing zone, a status that has added pressure on Palestinian communities living there.

The indictment does not resolve the broader questions raised by the killing, but it marks a notable legal step in a conflict zone where prosecutions tied to settler attacks are often rare. For rights advocates, the case is being watched closely as a test of whether Israeli authorities are prepared to pursue accountability in West Bank violence.

FAQ

What has Israel charged the settler with?

Israeli prosecutors charged him with reckless manslaughter, trespassing and willful property damage.

Who was Awdah Hathaleen?

He was a Palestinian activist from Umm al-Khair who also took part in the production of No Other Land.

Why is this case being described as rare?

B’Tselem said it is the first such indictment in a Palestinian killing in the West Bank since the Gaza war began in October 2023.