Key facts
- Israeli prosecutors charged settler Yinon Levy with reckless manslaughter for the death of Palestinian activist Odeh Hathaleen.
Israeli prosecutors have charged a settler, Yinon Levy, with reckless manslaughter for the July 2025 killing of Palestinian activist Odeh Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank. This marks the first indictment of an Israeli settler for a Palestinian's death in the West Bank since October 7, 2023.
This indictment is significant as it represents the first time an Israeli settler has been charged with killing a Palestinian in the West Bank in nearly three years, potentially signaling a shift in accountability for settler violence.
Israeli prosecutors have charged a settler, Yinon Levy, with reckless manslaughter for the killing of Palestinian activist Odeh Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank. The indictment, filed by Israel's Southern District Prosecutor's Office, also includes charges of armed trespassing and malicious property damage related to a July 2025 incident in the village of Umm al-Khair.
Hathaleen, a teacher and father-of-three, was known for his activism against settler violence and was featured in the 2025 Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land,' which follows legal battles over the Masafer Yatta community. According to the indictment, during a confrontation where settlers were operating an excavator, Levy cocked his gun and fired in the direction of residents, hitting Hathaleen. He then fired another shot into the air. Footage of the incident was shared widely online.
Israeli rights group B'Tselem stated this is the first indictment of an Israeli settler for the death of a Palestinian in the West Bank since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. The group described the decision to indict Levy as an "exception that proves the rule" of impunity for settler violence. Since October 7, at least 1,110 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank, according to UN data. B'Tselem noted that Levy had previously been sanctioned by the UK in 2024 for using aggression and destroying property to displace Palestinian communities, allegations he denied.
A lawyer for Hathaleen's family expressed hope that the charges signal a "turning point" for settler accountability, while Levy's lawyer called the prosecution's decision "mistaken."
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