TEL AVIV, Israel — Shocking new video footage has emerged, seemingly documenting the moment Awdah Hathaleen, a 31-year-old Palestinian activist, was fatally shot by an Israeli settler during a confrontation in the occupied West Bank. The incident, which occurred last month, has raised significant concerns regarding the ongoing violence faced by Palestinians in the region.
Released on Sunday by B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, the video shows Israeli settler Yinon Levi firing a gun towards the individual filming the confrontation. The footage captures the aftermath, with sounds of pain echoing as the camera continues rolling. B’Tselem confirmed that the footage was obtained from Hathaleen’s family, who stated that he had recorded the events leading to his tragic death on July 28.
In the video, Levi can be seen firing his weapon multiple times during an altercation with unarmed Palestinians. Another video, obtained by The Associated Press, corroborates witness accounts of Levi discharging his firearm. Despite being briefly detained, Levi was released from house arrest by an Israeli court, which cited a lack of evidence against him. This incident took place in Umm al-Khair, a village that has been plagued by settler violence, and has been featured in the Oscar-winning film “No Other Land.”
The recent surge in violence against Palestinians has been alarming, particularly since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. “Awdah’s killing is another horrific example of how Palestinians, both in Gaza and in the West Bank, are currently living without any sort of protection,” stated Sarit Michaeli, the international outreach director for B’Tselem. She emphasized the impunity that Israeli soldiers and settlers enjoy while committing acts of violence in broad daylight.
Levi's lawyer, Avichai Hajbi, argued that his client acted in self-defense but did not elaborate on the specifics of the incident. A recent court decision released Levi from house arrest, indicating that he did not pose a danger to the community. However, the judge imposed a month-long ban on contact with the villagers. The Israeli police have not yet commented on the newly surfaced videos or their investigation status.
B’Tselem reported that Levi was part of a group that had brought an excavator into Umm al-Khair, which residents feared would damage the village’s main water supply. In response, locals gathered to block its path, leading to tensions that culminated in the shooting. Witnesses claim that Hathaleen was approximately 40 meters (130 feet) away from the confrontation when he was struck by the bullet in the chest, causing him to collapse immediately.
Lawyer Eitan Peleg, representing Hathaleen’s family, revealed that the family had filmed the incident on their phone, and he urged the district court to investigate Levi for more serious charges. Levi has previously faced allegations of being involved in settler violence and helped establish a settler outpost near Umm al-Khair. Human rights groups have long criticized Israeli authorities for their inaction regarding settler violence against Palestinians.
After Hathaleen’s death, the Israeli military initially refused to return his body for burial unless specific conditions were met, including restrictions on the number of attendees at the funeral. After negotiations with the police, his body was eventually returned for burial. Hathaleen was known for speaking out against settler violence and had contributed to the Oscar-winning film that depicted the struggles of his community. In his honor, supporters have created murals in Rome, held vigils in New York, and displayed his name during anti-war protests in Tel Aviv.
