Israel charges settler with manslaughter in activist’s killing
Israeli prosecutors filed a rare reckless manslaughter charge against settler Yinon Levi for the July 2025 killing of activist Awdah Hathaleen in the West Bank.
Updated last month4 new reports, including Times of India, Variety.
The short version
Israel’s military prosecutor charged a settler with reckless manslaughter in the July 2025 killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen. The indictment marks the first such case against an Israeli settler in more than seven years.
Israeli prosecutors charged Yinon Levi with reckless manslaughter in the death of Awdah Hathaleen.1,4,5,6 The killing occurred in July 2025 in the occupied West Bank.3,4,6 Awdah Hathaleen was a prominent Palestinian activist who worked on the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.3,6
This is the first case in more than seven years where Israeli authorities pressed charges against an Israeli settler for killing a Palestinian.2,6 The charge of reckless manslaughter indicates prosecutors allege the killing resulted from negligent or reckless conduct rather than premeditation.1,4,5 The indictment was filed by Israel’s military prosecutor, which handles cases in the West Bank.6
The case follows a rise in settler violence in the West Bank, according to ABC News (AU).2 The killing of Awdah Hathaleen occurred last July, as reported by Al Jazeera.3 The settler’s name is spelled Yinon Levi in some reports and Yinon Levy in others, reflecting inconsistent transliteration.1,4
Why it matters
The West Bank is a territory captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War and is home to both Israeli settlements and Palestinian communities.3,4,6
Israeli settlers are Israeli citizens who live in communities built in the West Bank, which the international community considers illegal under international law.2,3,6
Reckless manslaughter is a criminal charge where death results from actions that show a disregard for the safety of others, without intent to kill.1,4,5
This account was written from the 6 reports listed below, filed by 5 independent outlets, and checked against them line by line. It is not a copy of any one of them. Spotted an error? Tell us.
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