Israel charges settler over killing of Palestinian activist in occupied West Bank

Israeli prosecutors on Thursday filed an indictment in a district court charging a settler with the killing of a Palestinian community leader in the occupied West Bank last year. The document accuses Yinon Levi, a resident of the southern West Bank, of reckless manslaughter in the death of prominent activist Awdah Hathaleen in July 2025. The charge carries a lighter penalty than murder under Israeli law. Levi also faces charges of armed trespassing and malicious property damage.

Charging settlers for violence against Palestinians is highly unusual in Israel. The Israeli rights group B’Tselem said the indictment against Levi is the first time since October 7, 2023, that an Israeli has been charged with the death of a Palestinian in the West Bank. According to the group, at least 1,100 Palestinians have been killed by settlers and soldiers in the territory during that period.

Levi’s lawyer, Avichay Hajbi, would not confirm whether the indictment had been filed, but told The Associated Press that the prosecution had made a “mistaken decision.” He said the defence would respond to the allegations in court.

Video footage showed Levi firing at crowds of Palestinians in Umm al Khair, the village where Hathaleen was killed. Witnesses said one of the shots hit Hathaleen, who was standing only metres away. One clip shows Levi firing twice, while another, which family members say Hathaleen recorded himself, shows Levi firing in the direction of the camera. The footage then cuts, and the person can be heard moaning in pain.

Hathaleen was a vocal campaigner against settler violence and featured in the 2025 Oscar-winning film “No Other Land,” which documented Palestinian residents’ efforts to defend their homes and villages. A teacher and father of three, he frequently hosted international activists and dignitaries.

His public profile and the videos of the alleged shooting led to global calls for Levi to be prosecuted. Levi was among settlers sanctioned by the United States and other Western countries in 2024 over allegations of violence against Palestinians. US President Donald Trump lifted the US sanctions after taking office the following year.