Israeli Settler Charged with Manslaughter in West Bank

Israeli prosecutors have charged a settler with reckless manslaughter over the killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank, marking the first such indictment of an Israeli for a Palestinian's death in the territory since the Gaza war began in October 2023. The charges were filed on Thursday, August 6, 2026, against Yinon Levi, 33, who also faces counts of armed trespassing and malicious property damage.

The indictment stems from an incident in July 2025 in the village of Umm al-Khair in the South Hebron Hills region. According to prosecutors, Levi ordered a minor to operate an excavator to clear an unauthorized route across privately owned Palestinian land, leading to a confrontation with villagers. Prosecutors allege that after villagers threw stones to stop the machinery, Levi assaulted two Palestinians, then moved away from the group and fired a single shot parallel to the ground in an area where children were present. Hathaleen, who was filming the confrontation from approximately 20 meters away, was struck and killed.

Hathaleen, a 31-year-old English teacher, father of three, and prominent community organizer, was a central figure in the...