Hebron: An Israeli occupier remained at liberty after fatally shooting Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to a forensic investigation released Wednesday by the Palestinian rights group Al-Haq. The investigation concluded that Yinon Levi unlawfully shot Hathaleen, 31, in Umm al-Kheir village in Masafer Yatta on July 28, 2025, even though there was no imminent threat to his life.
According to Anadolu Agency, the report revealed that Hathaleen was standing behind the fence of the village's community center, filming events with his mobile phone, when Levi shot him from about 30 meters (98 feet) away. The investigation found that Hathaleen was unarmed and posed no danger at the time he was shot. Levi extended his arm and aimed his firearm at Hathaleen before firing, striking him in the chest. A second shot was fired toward nearby residential buildings before Levi reloaded his weapon.
The investigation reconstructed the shooting, identifying the weapon used as an IWI Masada 9 mm semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Israel Weapon Industries. The incident began when an excavator entered privately owned Palestinian land, damaging property and allegedly striking Hathaleen's cousin. Despite this, Israeli military and police forces did not treat Levi or the excavator operator as criminal suspects.
The report noted that Levi was released after three days of house arrest by an Israeli court, which partially accepted his self-defense claim. Despite the killing, Levi was allowed to remain free, returning to the village days later to continue excavation work. Israeli authorities withheld Hathaleen's body for about 10 days and were accused of protecting the Israelis involved while failing to enforce the law against them.
The report also highlighted video evidence showing obstruction of an ambulance and the detention of Palestinian residents pointed out by Levi. Al-Haq's investigation synchronized over 60 videos, photographs, and testimonies with legal interviews and spatial evidence.
In a related development, the Israeli army raided a memorial event for Hathaleen on Tuesday, marking the first anniversary of his death. Local and international supporters, along with journalists, gathered for the event, which was disrupted by the army declaring the area a "closed military zone." The army also allegedly assaulted Ofer Cassif, a member of the Israeli Knesset, during the raid.
Following Hathaleen's killing, the Israeli army had previously prevented mourning gatherings in the village. Hathaleen, a teacher and father of three, was also a contributor to the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," which highlighted the displacement of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta.
Source: Anadolu Agency