Israel's prosecutor's office has charged a settler in connection with the death of a Palestinian community activist in the West Bank, according to an indictment filed in a district court, as reported by infohub.kz.
According to the document, Yinon Levi, who lives in the south of the West Bank, was charged with reckless manslaughter in the death of prominent Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in July 2025. This charge carries a lesser penalty than murder under Israeli law. Levi is also charged with armed trespassing and malicious property damage.
It is extremely rare for Israel to charge settlers with violence against Palestinians. According to the Israeli rights group B'Tselem, the charges against Levi mark the first time since Oct. 7, 2023, that an Israeli has been indicted for the death of a Palestinian in the West Bank. During that period, Israeli settlers and soldiers have killed at least 1,100 Palestinians in the territory.
Levi's lawyer, Avichay Hajbi, did not confirm whether an indictment was handed down, but told The Associated Press that the prosecution had made a "mistaken decision." He said the defense would respond to the accusations in court. Levi was shown in video footage shooting at crowds of Palestinians in Hathaleen's village, Umm al-Khair, on the day the activist was killed. Witnesses said one of the shots Levi fired struck Hathaleen, who was standing meters away.
One video showed Levi firing two shots, while another, which family members say was taken by Hathaleen himself, showed Levi firing toward the person holding the camera. The footage cuts, but the person can still be heard moaning in pain.
Hathaleen was a prominent voice advocating against settler violence and was involved in the 2025 Oscar-winning film "No Other Land," which chronicled the fight by Palestinian residents to protect their homes and villages. A teacher and father of three, he often hosted international activists and dignitaries in his home. His public profile and the videos capturing the moment of the alleged shooting ignited global calls for Levi's prosecution.
Levi was among the Israeli settlers sanctioned by the United States and other Western countries over allegations of violence toward Palestinians in 2024. U.S. President Donald Trump lifted the U.S. sanctions after taking office the following year.