Israel charges settler over killing of Palestinian involved in Oscar-winning West Bank film; rare prosecution follows rise in settler violence since 7 October 2023

Israeli prosecutors have charged settler Yinon Levy with reckless manslaughter for the July 2025 shooting of Palestinian activist Odeh Hathaleen, who was involved in the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. This indictment is significant as it marks the first prosecution of an Israeli for killing a Palestinian in the West Bank in nearly three years.

According to the indictment, during a confrontation in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair, Levy fired his weapon, hitting Hathaleen. The charges also include armed trespassing and malicious property damage related to the incident, which involved settlers operating an excavator in the village.

B'Tselem, an Israeli rights group, described the indictment as the "exception that proves the rule", highlighting the systemic impunity granted to settlers and soldiers who harm Palestinians. The organization noted that since the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack, there has been a significant rise in settler violence, with at least 1,110 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank, according to the UN. In contrast, 41 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian groups during the same period.²³

A lawyer for Hathaleen's family expressed hope that the charges could signify a "turning point" in accountability for settler violence, while Levy's lawyer criticized the prosecution as a "mistaken decision" and claimed Levy acted in self-defense.