Palestinian activist in Oscar-winning film killed in Israeli-occupied West Bank

Prominent Palestinian activist Odeh Hathalin, who had worked on the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land”, was shot and killed on Monday in the village of Umm al-Khair in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The attack, reportedly carried out by Israeli settler Yinon Levi, was captured on video by Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, who co-directed the film. The footage shows Levi, previously sanctioned by the US and EU, firing a handgun during a confrontation with Palestinian villagers.

Israeli police confirmed that an Israeli citizen was taken in for questioning over the shooting, though Levi was released to house arrest the following day.

The Palestinian health ministry later confirmed Hathalin succumbed to his injuries. A second Palestinian man was also injured after allegedly being beaten during the incident.

France condemned Hathalin’s killing, labeling it an act of terrorism and urging Israeli authorities to end settler violence and ensure accountability.

Violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank has surged since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, with at least 964 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces and settlers since then, according to the UN. Despite rare arrests, settlers often face little legal consequence. Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law.

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