Israeli settler accused of shooting Palestinian involved in Oscar-winning West Bank film dead
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Palestinian who filmed parts of Oscar-winning documentary killed in West Bank
A radical Israeli settler accused of shooting activist Awdah Hathaleen. He was filmed firing a pistol during the incident in Umm al-Khair, a village that has long seen conflict between the two communities. The incident is in Masafer Yatta, the focal point of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, which chronicles the Palestinians’ effort to remain on their land in the face of violence. The film, which won the Oscar for best documentary feature film in March, had two Israeli and two Palestinian co-directors. Israeli police said they detained eight people including an Israeli for questioning “on suspicion of reckless conduct resulting in death and unlawful use of a firearm”, five Palestinians and two foreigners. The Israeli military said an Israeli civilian had opened fire toward “terrorists” who hurled rocks at Israelis. Four of the five arrested Palestinians remained in Israeli custody.
A radical Israeli settler accused of shooting activist Awdah Hathaleen during a confrontation with unarmed Palestinians was filmed firing a pistol during the incident in Umm al-Khair, a village that has long seen conflict between the two communities.
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Witnesses say Yinon Levi, who was previously under US sanctions that were lifted by the Trump administration, killed Mr Hathaleen, who was also an English teacher and father of three.
Congratulations to NO OTHER LAND, this year’s Best Documentary Feature Film! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/VHY12iych9 — The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 3, 2025
Umm al-Khair is in Masafer Yatta, the focal point of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, which chronicles the Palestinians’ effort to remain on their land in the face of violence and the expansion of Jewish settlements considered illegal by most of the international community.
Mr Hathaleen, whose footage appears in the documentary, was outspoken about life under Israeli occupation.
His death sparked an outpouring of grief from family, international activists and rights groups.
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The Israeli co-director of the documentary, Yuval Abraham, described Mr Hathaleen in an Instagram post as “a remarkable activist who helped us film No Other Land in Masafer Yatta”.
The film, which won the Oscar for best documentary feature film in March, had two Israeli and two Palestinian co-directors.
The Israeli military said an Israeli civilian had opened fire toward “terrorists” who hurled rocks at Israelis.
Israeli police said they detained eight people including an Israeli for questioning “on suspicion of reckless conduct resulting in death and unlawful use of a firearm”, five Palestinians and two foreigners.
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Police said on Tuesday a court had denied their request to extend the detention of the Israeli and ordered the suspect’s release to house arrest.
The police did not identify the suspect, but Israeli media ran photos of a smiling Levi inside a courthouse on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, residents said four of the five arrested Palestinians remained in Israeli custody.
“They took the other half of my heart,” Mr Hathaleen’s brother-in-law, Tariq Hathaleen, wrote on Instagram.
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“You were always telling the story, and now you’ve become the story.”
The encounter in which witnesses said Awdah Hathaleen was shot was filmed in footage obtained by The Associated Press.
The video shows Levi waving a pistol during a stand-off with a group of Palestinians on a dusty road, a yellow excavator visible in the background.
Witnesses said Levi was there to protect the excavator, which had rolled down from a nearby settlement and damaged Palestinian property earlier in the day.
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The extended Hathaleen family and activists gathered at a mourning tent on Tuesday.
Israeli troops arrived later, ordering all foreign passport holders and media to leave, saying the area was a closed military zone.
Umm Al-Khair was founded in the 1950s by traditionally nomadic Bedouin, who settled there after being uprooted from the Negev desert during the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation.
Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war.
Last year, Israel’s military tore down a quarter of the homes in Umm Al-Khair, saying they had been built without Israeli authorisation.
On the day he died, Mr Hathaleen sent an urgent call to his network of activists and reporters.
“The settlers are working behind our houses and the worst (is) that they tried to cut the main water pipe for the community,” he wrote.
“If you can reach people like the congress, courts, whatever, please do everything. If they cut the pipe the community here will literally be without any drop of water.”
Israeli settler accused of shooting Palestinian involved in Oscar-winning West Bank film dead
Israeli settler accused of killing Palestinian involved in Oscar-winning West Bank film No Other Land. Odeh Hathaleen was shot in the lungs in Umm Al-Khair village in the occupied West Bank. Residents allege the shooter was Yinon Levy, who is sanctioned by the UK. Attorney Avichai Hajbi said he was representing a resident “who felt his life was in danger, was forced to fire his weapon into the air” after residents were “attacked by an Arab mob, along with foreign activists, with stones and violence” Police said on Tuesday morning they had detained an Israeli citizen for questioning. Israeli media later reported Levy was released on house arrest. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also detained five Palestinians on suspicion of involvement in the incident, as well as two foreign tourists who were present.
16 minutes ago Share Save Mallory Moench BBC News Share Save
@Kivsa_shchora/Masafering Odeh Hathaleen was shot in Umm Al-Khair village in the occupied West Bank
An Israeli settler shot dead a Palestinian teacher who helped film Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, according to the Palestinian education ministry and an Israeli-American activist who was at the scene of the shooting. No Other Land co-director Yuval Abraham said on X that a settler shot Odeh Hathaleen in the lungs in Umm Al-Khair village in the occupied West Bank. Residents allege the shooter was Yinon Levy, who is sanctioned by the UK. Attorney Avichai Hajbi said he was representing a resident “who felt his life was in danger, was forced to fire his weapon into the air” after residents were “attacked by an Arab mob, along with foreign activists, with stones and violence”.
Mattan Berner-Kadish, an Israeli-American activist at the scene, told the BBC that at about 17:20 local time (15:20 BST) on Monday, a bulldozer from a nearby Israeli settlement was driven through private Palestinian land, crushing a sewage pipe, multiple olive trees and two fences. Berner-Kadish and other activists, including Hathaleen’s cousin Ahmad, ran to block the bulldozer. The activist said the driver hit Ahmad in the neck and shoulder with a drill that extended from the bulldozer, with his footage capturing Ahmad falling to the ground. Berner-Kadish did not believe Levy was driving. While attending to Ahmad’s injuries, Berner-Kadish heard a pop. Running back to the village to get water, he saw Hathaleen lying bleeding from a gunshot wound and Levy, the only settler he saw, holding a gun. In a video believed to be filmed by a relative of Hathaleen and posted on social media, a man identified as Levy is seen holding a pistol with a bulldozer behind him, as men yell at him. Levy pushes at one man, who pushes back. Levy then raises his pistol and shoots ahead of him, then again into the air. The clip cuts off when the person filming turns around to run away as women are heard screaming. The footage does not show what or who the shots hit, if anything, and whether anyone else was shooting. There are no other settlers visible. Israeli police said it was investigating the incident in the area of Carmel, an Israeli settlement near Umm Al-Khair. “As a result of the incident, a Palestinian man was pronounced deceased. His exact involvement is under investigation,” police told the BBC. Police said on Tuesday morning they had detained an Israeli citizen for questioning. Israeli media later reported Levy was released on house arrest. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also detained five Palestinians on suspicion of involvement in the incident, along with two foreign tourists who were present. Berner-Kadish said on Tuesday evening they were still detained. The activist, who began visiting the village in 2021, said Hathaleen was “one of my best friends in the world” and the two were days away from constructing a football field in the village. He added that Hathaleen was a “warm and loving” father of three young children. The Palestinian education ministry said Hathaleen was a teacher at a local secondary school. US congresswoman Lateefah Simon, a Democrat from California, said she was “heartbroken” over the killing of Hathaleen. He and his cousin, “both holding valid visas”, were detained and deported from San Francisco airport last month while travelling for a multicultural faith dialogue, she said. Abraham said Hathaleen had helped film No Other Land, the 2025 Oscar winner for best documentary feature that follows the legal fight between the Israeli government and Palestinians over Masafer Yatta, a West Bank community of about 20 villages.
Israeli settler accused of killing Palestinian released on house arrest
The man, identified as Yinon Levi, was placed under house arrest on Tuesday after a Magistrate Court in Jerusalem declined to keep him in custody. The victim, 31-year-old Awdah Hathaleen, was shot dead on Monday night in the village of Umm al-Kheir, south of Hebron. “He was standing in front of the community centre in his village when a settler fired a bullet that pierced his chest and took his life,” a police statement said. Israeli police acknowledged that they were investigating an “incident near Carmel [al-Karmil]” and detained two foreign activists present in the area. The army also declared the village a closed military zone, effectively blocking journalists from entering and reporting on the scene. The incident was documented in the Oscar-winning film No Other Land, which documents Israeli settler and soldier attacks on the Palestinian community of Masafer Yatta. Israeli authorities released him to house arrest after he faced charges of manslaughter and unlawful firearm use.
An Israeli court has released to house arrest a settler accused of fatally shooting a Palestinian activist in the occupied West Bank.
The man, identified as Yinon Levi, was placed under house arrest on Tuesday after a Magistrate Court in Jerusalem declined to keep him in custody. Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Levi faced charges of manslaughter and unlawful firearm use in connection with the killing.
The victim, 31-year-old Awdah Hathaleen, was shot dead on Monday night in the village of Umm al-Kheir, south of Hebron.
Hathaleen was well known for his activism, including helping the creators of the Oscar-winning film No Other Land, which documents Israeli settler and soldier attacks on the Palestinian community of Masafer Yatta.
Footage published by Israeli human rights group B’Tselem appears to show Levi opening fire on Hathaleen during a confrontation in the village.
Despite the visual evidence and prior sanctions imposed on Levi by both the European Union and the United States over past attacks on Palestinians, Israeli authorities released him to house arrest.
US President Trump removed the penalties against Levi and other settlers accused of extremist violence after assuming office in January.
Witnesses told Anadolu news agency that Israeli troops stormed Umm al-Kheir shortly after the killing and detained two foreign activists present in the area. The army also declared the village a closed military zone, effectively blocking journalists from entering and reporting on the scene.
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The two filmmakers behind No Other Land – Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham and Palestinian journalist Basel Adra – also confirmed that the activist was shot and killed.
“My dear friend Awdah was slaughtered this evening,” Adra wrote on social media. “He was standing in front of the community centre in his village when a settler fired a bullet that pierced his chest and took his life,” he said.
“This is how Israel erases us — one life at a time.”
Co-director Abraham described Hathaleen as “a remarkable activist who helped us film No Other Land in Masafer Yatta”.
Abraham also posted a video of the incident and said that “residents identified Yinon Levi, sanctioned by the EU and US, as the shooter”.
“This is him in the video firing like crazy,” Abraham said.
Odeh just died. Murdered. https://t.co/rRWqSa48iN — Yuval Abraham יובל אברהם (@yuval_abraham) July 28, 2025
Israeli police acknowledged that they were investigating an “incident near Carmel [al-Karmil]”, an illegal Israeli settlement neighbouring Umm al-Kheir.
“An Israeli citizen was detained at the scene and then arrested by police for questioning,” a police statement said.
Israeli soldiers also arrested four Palestinians “in connection with the incident, along with two foreign tourists who were at the scene”, the police said.
“Following the incident, the death of a Palestinian was confirmed; his exact involvement in the incident is being verified,” the police added.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that a second Palestinian was injured in the attack after being beaten by a settler. He was taken to hospital by ambulance, Wafa added.
Hathaleen was from Masafer Yatta, a string of Palestinian hamlets located on the hills south of Hebron, where residents have fought for decades to remain in their homes after Israel declared the area an Israeli military “firing” or training zone.
Their efforts to prevent Israeli forces from destroying their homes were the subject of No Other Land, which won best documentary at the Oscars in March.
Hathaleen’s killing comes as Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem released a report on Monday accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
B’Tselem also said that there has been an “unprecedented spike in daily attacks by settlers, often armed and equipped with full military gear, on Palestinians in the West Bank”.
“These attacks include arson, theft, home invasions and takeovers, armed threats, beatings, and more,” B’Tselem said, and occur with the support of the “Israeli government and law enforcement agencies”.
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About three million Palestinians live in the occupied West Bank, alongside nearly half a million Israelis living in settlements, which are illegal under international law.
Earlier, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said that 27-year-old Mohammad Samer Suleiman al-Jamal succumbed to his wounds after being shot by Israeli forces at a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Hebron on Monday night, the Wafa news agency reported. The Israeli forces left Suleiman al-Jamal to bleed to death and prevented ambulance crews from reaching him, Wafa added.
Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023. More than 30 Israelis, including civilians and soldiers, have been killed in the occupied West Bank during the same period.
Israeli settler accused of killing contributor to Oscar-winning West Bank film ‘released on house arrest’
Awdah Hathaleen was killed in front of a community centre in the West Bank. Suspect identified as Yinon Levi, an Israeli settler who was sanctioned by the UK and EU last year. The area was documented in the Oscar-winning film No Other Land. The film follows Masafer Yatta residents as they struggle to stop Israel’s army from demolishing their villages. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in West Bank in Israeli military operations during the Gaza war.
The local leader, Awdah Hathaleen, was killed in front of a community centre in the Israel-occupied West Bank on Monday evening, film co-director Basel Adra, who was also Mr Hathaleen’s friend, said.
Adra said on social media that Mr Hathaleen was “slaughtered” as he was shot in the chest.
The suspect in the killing has been identified as Yinon Levi, an Israeli settler who was sanctioned by the UK and EU last year. Local media reports that he was released under house arrest on Tuesday.
Israel’s military said an armed Israeli civilian opened fire at a group of Palestinians after they threw rocks.
Israeli military and police responded to the incident.
A video of the incident obtained by The Associated Press shows a settler shooting into a crowd of people.
No Other Land, which won the Oscar this year for best documentary, follows Masafer Yatta residents as they struggle to stop Israel’s army from demolishing their villages.
The film’s Israeli co-director, Yuval Abraham, described Mr Hathaleen in an Instagram post as “a remarkable activist who helped us film No Other Land in Masafer Yatta”.
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No Other Land has two Palestinian co-directors, Hamdan Ballal and Adra, both Masafar Yatta residents, and two Israeli directors, Abraham and Rachel Szor.
In March, Ballal was detained by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank after being beaten up, according to activists.
Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank in Israeli military operations during the Gaza war, and there has also been a rise in settler attacks on Palestinians.
There has also been a surge in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
(c) Sky News 2025: Israeli settler accused of killing contributor to Oscar-winning West Bank film ‘released
Palestinian activist linked to Oscar-winning film gunned down by Israeli settlers
Awdah Muhammad Hathaleen was a resident of Masafer Yatta, a string of hamlets located on the hills south of Hebron. His efforts to prevent Israeli forces from destroying their homes was the subject of “No Other Land”, which won Best Documentary at the Oscars in March. Israeli police earlier said it was investigating an “incident near Carmel,” a settlement neighbouring Umm Al-Khair. At least 962 Palestinians, including many fighters but also many civilians, have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers since the start of the Gaza war in 2023.
The ministry said on social media that Awdah Muhammad Hathaleen “was shot dead by settlers… during their attack on the village of Umm al-Khair” near Hebron, in the south of the occupied territory.
The Israeli police earlier said it was investigating an “incident near Carmel,” a settlement neighbouring Umm Al-Khair.
Videos posted on social media showed Israeli settler Yinon Levy firing a gun during an altercation with Palestinians in Umm Al-Khair, near the Israel settlement of Carmel, in the south of the occupied West Bank.
“An Israeli citizen was detained at the scene and then arrested by police for questioning,” a police statement said.
“Four Palestinians were arrested by IDF (Israeli military) soldiers in connection with the incident, along with two foreign tourists who were at the scene.”
“Following the incident, the death of a Palestinian was confirmed; his exact involvement in the incident is being verified,” the police added.
Awdah Hathaleen was a resident of Masafer Yatta, a string of hamlets located on the hills south of Hebron, which have been declared a military zone by Israel.
Their efforts to prevent Israeli forces from destroying their homes was the subject of “No Other Land”, which won Best Documentary at the Oscars in March.
Its Israeli co-director, Yuval Abraham, posted a video on Instagram showing a man with a gun in his hand arguing with a group of people, while shouts can be heard in Hebrew and Arabic.
“An Israeli settler just shot (Awdah Hathaleen) in the lungs, a remarkable activist who helped us film ‘No Other Land’ in Masafer Yatta,” Abraham wrote.
About three million Palestinians live in the West Bank alongside nearly half a million Israelis living in settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.
At least 962 Palestinians, including many fighters but also many civilians, have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
At least 36 Israelis, including civilians and soldiers, have been killed there in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations, according to official Israeli data.
Agence France-Presse