TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli settler, Yinon Levi, who is accused of killing prominent Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen during a confrontation captured on video in the occupied West Bank, is set to be released from house arrest according to an Israeli court ruling on Friday.
The incident took place in the village of Umm al-Khair, where a video recorded by a Palestinian witness shows Levi brandishing a pistol and engaging in a struggle with a group of unarmed Palestinians. During the altercation, he is seen firing two shots, although the footage does not reveal where the bullets struck. Witnesses claim that one of the shots fatally injured Hathaleen, an English teacher and father of three, who was not involved in the confrontation and was merely standing nearby.
The Israeli military is currently in possession of Hathaleen's body and has stated that it will only return his remains if the family consents to bury him in a nearby city, citing a desire to “prevent public disorder.” The confrontation in Umm al-Khair occurred on a Monday and has been discussed in the context of a documentary titled “No Other Land,” which won an Oscar and explores issues of settler violence and life under Israeli military rule.
In the court ruling, Judge Havi Toker acknowledged that there was "no dispute" about Levi discharging his firearm in the village that day. However, she also noted that Levi might have been acting in self-defense and that the court could not conclusively determine that his shots resulted in Hathaleen's death. The Israeli military and police have not responded to inquiries regarding whether additional gunfire came from other individuals present during the incident. Efforts to contact Levi and his lawyer have not yielded any responses.
Judge Toker concluded that Levi did not represent a significant danger that would warrant the continuation of his house arrest but imposed a one-month restriction on him preventing contact with the villagers. Levi has previously faced sanctions from the United States and other Western nations due to allegations of violent actions against Palestinians. Following President Donald Trump's return to office, sanctions against Levi and other radical settlers were lifted.
Following the incident, a total of 18 Palestinians from the village were arrested, with six still remaining in custody. Eitay Mack, an Israeli lawyer advocating for sanctions against radical settlers, including Levi, expressed that the court's decision was not unexpected, highlighting a systemic bias where Palestinian victims are often viewed as suspects while Jewish suspects are perceived as victims.
Levi played a role in establishing a settler outpost near Umm al-Khair, which critics assert is a stronghold for aggressive settlers who have displaced many villagers since the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict. This incident reflects the ongoing issue of rising settler violence, further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict, as rights groups and Palestinians accuse Israeli authorities of neglecting such violence.
On a related note, approximately 70 women from Umm al-Khair announced their intention to embark on a hunger strike, demanding the return of Hathaleen's body and the right for his family to bury him in their village. The Israeli military stated in their communication that they would return the body if the family agreed to inter him in the "nearest authorized cemetery."
Awdah Hathaleen, 31, was a vocal critic of settler violence, utilizing his platform to raise awareness and advocate for Palestinian rights. He contributed to the production of the Oscar-winning film that drew attention to these issues. In his honor, supporters have created murals in Rome, held vigils in New York, and displayed signs with his name at anti-war demonstrations in Tel Aviv.
