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An Israeli settler faces formal charges of reckless manslaughter in connection with the death of a prominent Palestinian community leader, according to an indictment filed Thursday in district court. Prosecutors allege that Yinon Levi, a resident of southern West Bank settlements, killed activist Awdah Hathaleen in July 2025. The charge carries lesser penalties than a murder conviction under Israeli law, and Levi also faces separate counts of armed trespassing and intentional property damage.
The prosecution marks a significant departure from typical Israeli legal proceedings, as charges against settlers for violence targeting Palestinians remain extraordinarily uncommon. Human rights organization B’Tselem noted this represents the first indictment of an Israeli for a Palestinian death in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, despite documentation showing Israeli settlers and military personnel have killed at least 1,100 Palestinians during that period.
Video evidence captured Levi firing weapons toward crowds of Palestinians in Hathaleen’s village of Umm al-Khair on the day of the killing. Witnesses testified that one of the shots struck Hathaleen, who stood just meters away. Additional footage showed Levi discharging rounds in the direction of a camera operator, with audio capturing sounds of injury after the recording ends.
Levi’s attorney, Avichay Hajbi, declined to confirm the indictment but characterized the prosecution as a “mistaken decision,” stating the defense would address the allegations during court proceedings. Hathaleen, a teacher and father of three, had gained international prominence as an outspoken opponent of settler violence and featured in the 2025 Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” which documented Palestinian efforts to preserve their communities.
The activist’s high public profile and the explicit video documentation of the shooting prompted international demands for prosecution. Prior to his death, Levi had been sanctioned by the United States and other Western nations in 2024 for alleged violence against Palestinians—sanctions that U.S. President Donald Trump rescinded upon assuming office in 2025.
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