Israeli Prosecutors: Yinon Levi Indicted for Awdah Hathaleen Killing

• Israeli prosecutors have indicted settler Yinon Levi for the reckless manslaughter of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the West Bank.
• This is the first time since October 7, 2023, an Israeli has been charged with killing a Palestinian in the West Bank, according to B’Tselem.
• The indictment, filed in Beersheba, also includes charges of armed trespassing and malicious property damage related to the July 2025 incident in Umm al-Khair.
• Video evidence and the indictment detail Levi firing shots that struck Hathaleen, who was documenting the scene and later died from his injuries.
• Levi maintains his innocence, claiming self-defense, while Hathaleen’s family and rights groups hope the indictment signals a shift towards greater accountability.

This rare indictment of an Israeli settler for the Awdah Hathaleen killing could signal a potential, albeit limited, shift in prosecutorial willingness to pursue such cases.

Israeli prosecutors have filed an indictment against Yinon Levi, an Israeli settler, in connection with the killing of prominent Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank. This legal action, confirmed by state attorneys, marks the first instance since October 7, 2023, that an Israeli has faced charges for killing a Palestinian in the West Bank, according to the Israeli rights group B’Tselem. The indictment was submitted to a district court in Beersheba, located in southern Israel.

Levi, who resides in an outpost in the southern West Bank, faces charges of reckless manslaughter in the death of Hathaleen, which occurred in July 2025. Additionally, the indictment includes accusations of armed trespassing and malicious property damage. Awdah Hathaleen was a respected community leader known for his advocacy against settler violence in the region. He was also involved in the 2025 Oscar-winning film “No Other Land,” a documentary that chronicled the struggles of Palestinian residents to safeguard their homes and villages.

The indictment was filed just over a year after Hathaleen's death in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Khair. Eitan Peleg, the lawyer representing Hathaleen’s family, expressed hope that this case could signify a crucial shift toward more stringent enforcement of the law against individuals involved in violence in the West Bank. Tariq Hathaleen, Awdah’s cousin and lifelong friend, acknowledged that while the indictment cannot bring his relative back, the family views it as a significant development, believing it could deter future acts of violence by settlers.

The indictment, issued by Israel's Southern District Prosecutor’s Office, details the events leading to Awdah Hathaleen’s death. It states that on the day of the incident, video footage captured Yinon Levi firing shots in the direction of buildings and a group of Palestinians within Hathaleen’s village of Umm al-Khair. One video showed Levi discharging two shots, while another, which family members assert was recorded by Hathaleen himself, depicted Levi firing toward the person holding the camera. The footage then cuts, but the sound of someone moaning in pain can still be heard.

According to the indictment, the initial shot fired by Levi struck Hathaleen, who was standing approximately 20 meters (about 65 feet) away, documenting the scene. The bullet caused a puncture to Hathaleen’s lung and chest, leading him to collapse and bleed. The legal document further states that Hathaleen was already deceased upon arrival at the hospital, having succumbed to hypovolemic shock and respiratory failure. Under Israeli law, a conviction for reckless manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.

In response to the charges, Yinon Levi communicated to prosecutors that he intends to contest his innocence in court. In a letter shared with The Associated Press, Levi argued against penalizing acts of self-defense, accusing the prosecution of providing “de facto support for terrorism.” Avichay Hajbi, Levi’s lawyer, described the prosecution’s decision as “mistaken” when contacted by phone, confirming that the defense would formally address the accusations in court. A spokesperson for the prosecutors’ office confirmed the Beersheba district court indictment had been filed and noted that Levi is not currently under arrest, with a meeting scheduled in the coming weeks for the charges to be formally read.

This rare indictment of an Israeli settler for the Awdah Hathaleen killing could signal a potential, albeit limited, shift in prosecutorial willingness to pursue such cases. The charges against Yinon Levi stand in stark contrast to the broader context of violence in the West Bank. The Israeli rights group B’Tselem reports that Israeli settlers and soldiers have been responsible for the deaths of at least 1,100 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7, 2023. Hathaleen, a teacher, is one of those victims.

Yair Dvir, a spokesperson for B’Tselem, characterized the decision to indict Yinon Levi as “the exception that proves the rule.” Dvir further asserted that the impunity often granted by Israel to soldiers and settlers who harm Palestinians is not a systemic failure but rather a deliberate component of a policy designed to permit and escalate such violence. Lawyers advising clients on risk exposure, human rights, or international law implications in the region should monitor this case for any precedent it might set regarding accountability and enforcement actions in the occupied territories.

The Hathaleen family's lawyer, Eitan Peleg, articulated a hope that the Awdah Hathaleen death charges will mark a turning point, leading to more rigorous enforcement of the law against individuals involved in violence in the West Bank. This Israeli settler West Bank indictment, particularly the reckless manslaughter charge, brings a spotlight to the Umm al-Khair shooting charges and the broader issue of accountability, prompting observers to consider whether it represents a genuine move toward greater justice or remains an isolated incident within a complex legal and political landscape.

This rare indictment of an Israeli settler for killing a Palestinian activist in the West Bank could signal a potential, albeit limited, shift in prosecutorial willingness to pursue such cases. Lawyers advising clients on risk exposure, human rights, or international law implications in the region should monitor this case for any precedent it might set regarding accountability and enforcement actions in the occupied territories.

Source: Original reporting via The Associated Press