A Palestinian journalist and community leader who contributed to the Oscar-winning documentary ‘No Other Land’ was fatally shot by an Israeli settler near Hebron in the occupied West Bank.
Awdah Hathaleen, an activist and journalist from the village of Umm al-Khair, was killed in front of a community center during an attack by Israeli settlers. Hathaleen played a key role in the making of No Other Land, a joint Palestinian-Israeli film directed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
The documentary, which chronicles the residents’ fight against Israeli military demolition of villages in Masafer Yatta, won Best Documentary at the Berlinale last year and at the Oscars this year.
Filmmakers Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham confirmed the incident. Abraham posted a video on social media showing Israeli settler Yinon Levi brandishing a handgun and firing at the group.
Abraham described Hathaleen as “a remarkable activist who helped us film No Other Land in Masafer Yatta.”
Adra mourned the loss on social media, stating, “My dear friend Awdah was killed this evening. He was standing in front of the community center when a settler shot him in the chest, taking his life. This is how Israel erases us — one life at a time.”
The Palestinian Authority’s education ministry condemned the killing, stating that Hathaleen was shot during an attack on Umm al-Khair by settlers.
The Israeli military said an armed Israeli civilian opened fire after Palestinians threw rocks. Police responded to the incident, but no charges have been filed against Yinon Levi. Levi was previously sanctioned by the US and EU in 2024 for violent attacks on Palestinians. However, the Trump administration lifted US sanctions earlier this year, while EU and UK sanctions remain in place.
The incident comes amid ongoing conflict following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. Israel’s military offensive in response has caused more than 60,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza health authorities, with nearly 900 Israeli soldiers also killed.