A far-right Israeli settler is facing a 12-year prison sentence for killing Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the occupied West Bank last year.
Yinon Levi, a settler who has been internationally sanctioned over his attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, was indicted by the Israeli State Attorney's Office on Thursday with a homicide charge for the killing of Awdah Hathaleen, the Times of Israel reported.
Hathaleen was killed in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair on 28 July, 2025, after Levi fired a gun during a confrontation, instigated after Levi ordered fellow settlers to storm a fence in the village.
According to prosecutors, Levi ordered a backhoe driver to break through the fence to construct a new path to the illegal settlement of Carmel, outside Umm al-Khair.
After villagers attempted to block the settlers, the driver struck one of them with the digger, with villagers continuing to confront the intrusion, throwing rocks at the vehicle.
Levi then drew his pistol, shooting a round into the ground and another round towards Hathaleen.
Hathaleen, a teacher and activist from the village who worked on the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land', was recording the confrontation when Levi shot him.
In Hathaleen's footage, Levi is seen pointing the gun towards him and he then falls down after being struck by Levi's bullet.
Alongside the homicide charge, Levi is also facing a charge of trespassing while armed, as well as a charge of malicious damage.
Following the killing, Hathaleen's body was held by the Israeli military for 10 days, with Israel later placing restrictions on the funeral such as only allowing the attendance of 15 people, and banning mourning tents near the family home. These restrictions were later lifted.
During a vigil marking the anniversary of Hathaleen's killing, Israeli border police disrupted the ceremony, demanding organisers make everyone leave in five minutes, and assaulting Hadash MK Ofer Cassif in the process.
Levi was briefly placed under house arrest following the killing, but was released within days.
The Israeli State Attorney's Office announced in February its intention to prosecute Levi over the killing.
He has been sanctioned by the UK, EU and Canada over his violence against Palestinians. US sanctions against him were lifted after the Trump administration came to power.
Levi, who is the founder of the illegal outpost Meitrarim Farms, is often subcontracted by the Israeli army to demolish Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank.