Israeli Settler Charged in Killing of Palestinian Activist

Israeli prosecutors have charged a Jewish settler, Yinon Levi, with reckless manslaughter in the death of Owdeh Hathaleen, a Palestinian community leader and activist. The indictment also includes charges of armed trespassing and malicious property damage. The incident occurred in July 2025 in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair during a confrontation involving settlers using a large excavator. Footage released by the rights group B’Tselem shows Levi firing a weapon in the direction of Hathaleen, who filmed the moment he was shot. Levi, who has been sanctioned by the EU and Britain for violence against Palestinians, has previously denied firing the fatal shot.

Rights groups describe the indictment as rare. B’Tselem stated this is the first such indictment since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, while Yesh Din noted that an Israeli civilian was last indicted for killing a Palestinian in the West Bank in 2019. B’Tselem framed the decision as an exception that proves a rule of impunity for settlers and soldiers. Conversely, the Israeli military maintains that it investigates wrongdoing by soldiers and that police take steps to curb settler violence.

UN data indicates that 18 Palestinians have been killed in incidents linked to settler attacks so far this year. Most countries and UN bodies view Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal under international conventions, a position Israel disputes by citing a historical Jewish presence in the region.