Palestinian activist Odeh Hathalin shot dead by Israeli settler

A prominent Palestinian activist was killed on a Monday in the occupied West Bank during an attack attributed to Israeli settlers. Odeh Hathalin, a consultant for the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land', was shot in the village of Umm al-Khair while confronting Israeli settlers who were operating a bulldozer. In the same community of Masafer Yatta, Yinon Levi, an Israeli settler whose prior U.S. sanctions were lifted, was arrested at the scene for recklessness and unlawful use of a firearm. Witnesses reported that Levi fired his gun multiple times as he engaged with Palestinian villagers, eventually striking Hathalin, who was a father of three young children, ages 5, 3, and seven months. The incident has raised concerns over the rising violence against Palestinians, particularly amid reports that settlers often face little judicial accountability for violent actions against Palestinian communities. Alaa al-Hathalin, Odeh's cousin, asserted that Levi had a history of antagonizing their community. Following the shooting, Levi was placed under house arrest, while Ofer Cassif, a member of the Knesset, called for a thorough investigation into Hathalin's death, emphasizing the need for accountability. The growing toll of violence continues to impact Palestinian civilians as the situation in the West Bank remains fraught with tension and instability.