Israel charges a settler in West Bank killing of Palestinian activist

Key Points:

• Israeli prosecutors have charged settler Yinon Levi with reckless manslaughter, armed trespassing, and malicious property damage for the killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the West Bank in July 2025, marking the first such indictment since October 2023.
• Hathaleen was a prominent community leader against settler violence and featured in the Oscar-winning film “No Other Land,” which documented Palestinian efforts to protect their homes.
• Video evidence showed Levi firing shots that fatally wounded Hathaleen, who was documenting settler activity at the time; the indictment states Hathaleen died from gunshot wounds after collapsing in a courtyard.
• Levi denies the charges, claiming self-defense and accusing prosecutors of supporting terrorism, while his lawyer describes the indictment as a mistaken decision set to be challenged in court.
• Human rights group B’Tselem criticized the indictment as an exception in a broader pattern of impunity for settlers and soldiers involved in violence against Palestinians, noting over 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023.