Israeli settler charged in death of West Bank activist

The charges filed by the State Attorney’s office stem from a violent incident in the village of Umm al-Khair. During the encounter, settlers operated a large excavator, leading to a clash with local residents. B'Tselem, an Israeli rights group, released footage showing Levi drawing a weapon and firing toward Hathaleen, who appeared in the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. Hathaleen, captured on camera falling to the ground, later died from his injuries. Levi, currently under sanctions by Britain and the European Union, has previously denied firing the fatal shot.

Legal experts point out that this case is an anomaly in a territory where impunity is often the norm. Yesh Din, another rights watchdog, noted that the last time an Israeli civilian faced charges for killing a Palestinian in the West Bank was 2019. While the Israeli military maintains that it investigates wrongdoing and works to suppress settler violence, United Nations data indicates a grim trend: 18 Palestinians have been killed in settler-linked incidents this year alone, already surpassing the 17 deaths recorded throughout 2025. B'Tselem described the indictment as an exception that highlights a systemic policy rather than a shift in enforcement.