Awdah Hathaleen, Palestinian Activist and Teacher, Killed by Israeli Settler
Awdah Hathaleen, a respected Palestinian activist and teacher who contributed to the production of the Oscar-winning documentary film “No Other Land” in 2024, tragically lost his life on Monday in Umm al-Khair, located in the Occupied West Bank, after being shot by an Israeli settler.
Yuval Abraham, an Israeli investigative journalist and co-director of “No Other Land,” shared a disturbing video on social media showing the settler, identified as Yinon Levi, wielding a firearm in front of a bulldozer and firing shots.
According to reports, Hathaleen was standing near a community center about 150 feet away from Levi when he was fatally shot in the chest. Hathaleen had assisted the Israeli-Palestinian director collective in filming the documentary, which highlighted the mass expulsion of Palestinians from Masafer Yatta.
Basel Adra, the main subject of the film and co-director, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of his dear friend Hathaleen, emphasizing the ongoing erasure of Palestinian lives by acts of violence. Adra shared a heartfelt message on social media mourning the tragic incident.
Yinon Levi, the Israeli settler responsible for the fatal shooting, has a history of engaging in violence against Palestinians. He was previously sanctioned by the United States for his violent behavior but was later released on house arrest following his arrest by Israeli authorities.
Regrettably, incidents of settler violence against Palestinians continue to occur, with another Palestinian film co-director, Hamdan Ballal, experiencing a similar attack earlier this year.
“No Other Land,” the documentary in which Hathaleen played a crucial role, received widespread acclaim and won the Oscar for best feature-length documentary. The directors used their acceptance speech to highlight the injustices faced by the Palestinian people and called for an end to ethnic cleansing.
Despite its success, the film has yet to secure a US distributor, underscoring the challenges faced by Palestinian voices in the mainstream media landscape.
