Awdah Hathaleen, a Palestinian activist featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary No Other Land, was killed during clashes with settlers in the village of Umm al-Khair in the West Bank.
Hathaleen was allegedly shot by Yinon Levi, an extremist previously sanctioned by the Biden administration, the UK, and Canada.
Levi was released by the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court to house arrest on Tuesday. Police attributed to him the charges of reckless homicide and the discharge of a firearm; it did not challenge the court's decision.
Levi and another unidentified man were working on agricultural labor on state lands located near Umm al-Khair. They then crossed over to private Palestinian land with their work tools.
The Palestinians tried to block them, and one was injured from an excavator used by the two. The police's account of the event is that the two were on their way to nearby Carmel after work when they were attacked with stones by a group of Palestinians.
When Levi sensed a threat to his life, he pulled out the gun, which killed Hathaleen. The police representative said the option that it was done in self-defense needs to be investigated.
Four Palestinians were arrested by the IDF, and are suspected of attacking, throwing stones, and damaging property; a hearing is set for Thursday for them at military court. Two foreigners were arrested as well, and are suspected of disturbing the peace and obstruction, and a deportation process has begun for them.
Western sanctions against Levi
Levi was sanctioned last year by several Western states and entities, including the US - though the designation was reversed by the Trump administration - the UK, and the European Union for alleged violence against Palestinians.
Hathaleen was active against the evacuation of Palestinian communities in Masafer Yata. He worked as an English teacher and was 31-years-old.
For months, the international film community has rallied behind No Other Land, the documentary about the military’s destruction of Masafer Yatta. Two of the film’s four nominated directors are Palestinians who live in the West Bank. Basel Adra, a friend of Hathaleen's and one of the film's directors, said Hathaleen was involved in community building and organizing summer activities for young children.
Clashes have been ongoing and tense in the area over the past few days.
Mount Hebron Regional Council Eliram Azulai said, “We warned and demanded the creation of security spaces around the settlements, and today we saw with our own eyes the danger that illegal construction creates in the area.” He called on authorities to act against “illegal construction around the settlements.”
A spokeswoman for Carmel added, “We will not accept a reality in which a Jew is attacked! Certainly not within the settlement area! The incident here could have ended in the murder of a Jew if he had not defended himself. We call on the enforcement authorities to wake up and immediately remove any illegal construction that closes off the Carmel settlement and endangers lives.”
Sharing a video of the murder, The Democrats MK Gilad Kariv slammed National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, alleging his actions had emboldened extremists.
“Ben-Gvir has paralyzed the police and Katz has blocked the Shin Bet's operations, as the army continues to turn a blind eye. In the [Palestinian] territories, armed Jewish militias operate unchecked,” Kariv wrote on X/Twitter. “The bloodshed is already a terrible disaster and demands action, but let no one be under any illusion - this will not stop at the Green Line.”
Left-wing US-based NGO J Street said it was “heartbroken and horrified.” It said that Hathaleen had been a partner of the organization and announced that they would be backing the proposed West Bank Violence Prevention Act in response to the growing number of settler attacks.
+972 Magazine also mourned his death, noting his contributions to both the outlet and local education. He taught English after receiving his degree from the University of Hebron.
Andrew Lapin/JTA contributed to this report