Israeli prosecutors have charged a Jewish settler, Yinon Levi, with reckless manslaughter in connection with the death of Palestinian community leader Awdah Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank last year. This marks the first such indictment in nearly three years.
Papers filed by the state attorney’s office also charge Levi with armed trespassing and malicious property damage. These charges relate to a July 2025 incident in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair, where settlers reportedly operated a large excavator, leading to a confrontation with residents.
Footage released by the Israeli rights group B’Tselem shows Levi drawing a weapon and firing in Hathaleen’s direction, who was filming the incident and is then heard moaning as he falls. Levi has previously denied firing the fatal shot.
B’Tselem stated that Thursday's indictment is the first since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks, which they say led to a rise in settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.