Palestinian authorities announced on Monday that Awdah Hathaleen, an anti-occupation activist in the West Bank and contributor to the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” was killed by Israeli settlers near the village of Umm al-Khair, south of Hebron.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education, where Hathaleen worked as a teacher, confirmed his death and mourned him as a “martyr.” Co-director Yuval Abraham also paid tribute, noting Hathaleen’s efforts to raise awareness about the struggles of Palestinians in the Massafer Yatta area — a region declared a military zone by Israel, putting entire villages at risk of forced eviction.
Israeli police said they have launched an investigation but did not confirm the killing as murder. According to the police statement, an Israeli citizen was detained at the scene near the Carmel settlement and is being questioned.
The incident reportedly followed a dispute and stone-throwing. Tensions in the West Bank have intensified since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023. According to Palestinian data, at least 962 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers since then, alongside 36 Israelis killed in Palestinian attacks or military operations.
