TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — New video footage seems to point out the second a Palestinian activist was killed as an Israeli settler fired towards him throughout a confrontation with unarmed Palestinians within the occupied West Financial institution final month.
The video launched Sunday by B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights group, reveals Israeli settler Yinon Levi firing a gun towards the particular person filming. The footage cuts however the digital camera retains rolling because the particular person moans in ache.
B’Tselem says it obtained the video from the household of Awdah Hathaleen, 31, an activist, English trainer and father of three who was shot lifeless on July 28, and who they stated had filmed it. Levi, who was proven firing his gun twice in video shot by one other witness and obtained by The Related Press, was briefly detained after which launched from home arrest by an Israeli courtroom, which cited lack of proof.
The taking pictures occurred in Umm al-Khair, a village that has lengthy weathered settler violence in an space profiled in the Oscar-winning movie “No Other Land.” Settler assaults on Palestinians have spiked for the reason that outbreak of the Israel-Hamas struggle, as have assaults by Palestinian militants.
“Awdah’s killing is another horrific example of how Palestinians, both in Gaza and in the West Bank, are currently living without any sort of protection, fully exposed to Israeli violence, while Israeli soldiers or settlers can kill them in broad daylight and enjoy full impunity while the world watches,” stated Sarit Michaeli, the worldwide outreach director for B’Tselem.
Levi was beforehand below U.S. sanctions that have been lifted by the Trump administration.
Tamir Kalifa by way of Getty Photos
Each movies seem to point out the identical confrontation between Levi and a gaggle of Palestinians. The sooner video confirmed him firing two photographs from a pistol however didn’t present the place the bullets struck. A number of witnesses instructed the AP they noticed Levi shoot Hathaleen.
Avichai Hajbi, a lawyer representing Levi, instructed the AP that Levi acted in self-defense — with out specifying what his actions have been. Hajbi pointed to a courtroom’s determination earlier this month that launched Levi from home arrest, citing inadequate proof. The choose stated Levi didn’t pose a hazard justifying continued home arrest, however barred him from contact with the villagers for a month.
The Israeli police didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark about whether or not they’d seen the movies.
B’Tselem stated Levi was with a crew that introduced an excavator from a close-by settlement into Umm al-Khair. Residents, fearing it might reduce the village’s most important water line, gathered on a mud street to try to block its path, and at the least one particular person threw a stone on the automobile’s entrance window.
Levi then confronted the group whereas waving a handgun.
The brand new video reveals Levi arguing heatedly with three males earlier than firing the gun within the route of the particular person filming. Hathaleen was standing on the village group heart about 40 meters (130 toes) from the confrontation, stated B’Tselem. The bullet hit him within the chest and he collapsed on the spot, it stated.
Eitan Peleg, a lawyer for Hathaleen’s household, stated they instructed him Hathaleen had shot the footage on his telephone. He stated the police requested him for the video, which they hadn’t seen. Peleg stated he’s urging the district courtroom to research Levi for extra critical crimes.
Levi helped set up a settler outpost close to Umm al-Khair that anti-settlement activists say is a bastion for violent settlers who’ve displaced a whole lot for the reason that begin of the struggle. Palestinians and rights teams have lengthy accused Israeli authorities of turning a blind eye to settler violence.
In a 2024 interview, Levi instructed the AP he was defending his personal land and denied utilizing violence.
After Hathaleen’s killing, Israel’s military initially refused to return his physique for burial until circumstances have been met for the funeral, together with limiting the variety of folks and the situation. After an settlement was made with the police a few week later, Hathaleen’s physique was returned and buried.
Hathaleen had written and spoken out in opposition to settler violence and had helped produce the Oscar-winning movie. Supporters have erected murals in his honor in Rome, held vigils in New York and have held indicators bearing his identify at anti-war protests in Tel Aviv.
