A West Bank settler faces reckless manslaughter charges in the killing of Odeh Hathaleen, who helped film the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.
Israeli prosecutors have filed West Bank settler charges against Yinon Levy in the killing of Palestinian activist Odeh Hathaleen, a teacher and father of three who helped film the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. The charge is reckless manslaughter, tied to a July 2025 shooting in the occupied West Bank village of Umm al-Khair.
The Southern District Prosecutor’s Office also charged Levy with armed trespassing and malicious property damage. According to the indictment, settlers were operating an excavator in the Palestinian village when a confrontation broke out with residents. Prosecutors say Levy cocked his gun and fired toward the residents, hitting Hathaleen, then fired another round into the air. Footage of the incident circulated widely online, and Levy has previously denied that he fired the shot that killed Hathaleen.
Hathaleen was known as a public voice against settler violence in the occupied West Bank. His role in No Other Land linked his death to a broader story already familiar far beyond the region: the struggle over Masafer Yatta, a West Bank area of about 20 villages, and the human cost of land disputes that have drawn international attention. The film follows the legal battle between the Israeli government and Palestinians in that community.
Israeli rights group B’Tselem said the indictment is the first against an Israeli for killing a Palestinian in the West Bank in nearly three years. The group said the case comes after a sharp rise in settler violence since the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered the Gaza war. It said the move was an exception to a pattern of impunity. A lawyer for Hathaleen’s family said they hoped the charges would mark a turning point in how violence by settlers is handled.
“A West Bank settler faces reckless manslaughter charges in the killing of Odeh Hathaleen, who helped film the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.”
Levy has said he will fight for his innocence in court. In a letter seen by The Associated Press, he said prosecutors should not punish acts of self-defense and accused them of giving de facto support for terrorism. His lawyer, Avichai Hajbi, called the case a mistaken decision. B’Tselem responded in stark terms, saying Israel’s treatment of soldiers and settlers who harm Palestinians is part of a system that allows the violence to continue.
The case lands against a backdrop of lethal unrest across the West Bank. The United Nations says at least 1,110 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers there since the Gaza war began, while at least 41 Israelis have been killed by a Palestinian armed group or civilian in the same period. That imbalance has fueled demands from Palestinian rights groups and others for accountability in cases that often move slowly, if at all.
Levy’s record has already drawn international scrutiny. The United Kingdom sanctioned him in 2024, saying he used physical aggression, threatened families at gunpoint, and damaged property in an effort to drive Palestinian communities out. The United States also sanctioned him under President Joe Biden, but those sanctions were later lifted under President Donald Trump. For American readers, the case is a reminder that the West Bank conflict is not confined to diplomacy or headlines abroad — it also turns on whether violence there brings real consequences. The takeaway: this prosecution may test whether accountability in the West Bank finally becomes more than the exception.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Odeh Hathaleen?
Hathaleen was a Palestinian activist, teacher, and father of three. He also helped film the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.
What charges did Yinon Levy face?
Levy was charged with reckless manslaughter, armed trespassing, and malicious property damage. Prosecutors said the charges stem from the July 2025 shooting in Umm al-Khair.
What does the indictment say happened?
Prosecutors said settlers were using an excavator when a confrontation broke out with residents. They said Levy cocked his gun, fired toward residents, hit Hathaleen, and then fired into the air.
Why has the case drawn wider attention?
B'tselem said it was the first Israeli indictment for killing a Palestinian in the West Bank in nearly three years. The case also follows a rise in settler violence since the Gaza war began.
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