Video Shows Israeli Settler Killing Palestinian Activist West Bank

Newly released video footage by the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem shows the moment Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen was fatally shot by Israeli settler Yinon Levi during a confrontation in the occupied West Bank village of Umm al-Khair. Hathaleen, a 31-year-old English teacher and activist who helped produce the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, filmed the incident himself, capturing Levi firing a gun in his direction before he was wounded. Levi, previously sanctioned by the UK, EU, and formerly the US for extremist acts against Palestinians, was briefly detained but later released by an Israeli court citing weakened evidence. He denies firing the fatal shot, claiming self-defense and stating he fired warning shots into the air, though the footage contradicts these claims. The incident occurred amid escalating settler violence following the Israel-Gaza war, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank to violence with limited protection or accountability. Human rights advocates emphasize that Hathaleen’s killing exemplifies the impunity enjoyed by Israeli settlers and soldiers, as Levi has since resumed construction activities near the village.