Remembering Awdah Hathaleen
July 28, 2026 - A year ago today, Awdah Hathaleen was shot and killed by a settler terrorist in the West Bank.
Awdah was a lifelong resident of Umm Al-Kheir. Best known for his work on the documentary No Other Land, he was an activist, an educator, and a father. He formed deep relationships with everyone from journalists to diplomats, wrote about the realities of life under occupation, and taught English to kids in Umm Al-Kheir.
Awdah died standing up for his community. Yinon Levy – a settler previously sanctioned by the Biden administration for his involvement in violence against Palestinians – murdered Awdah when villagers tried to stop Levy’s excavator from destroying infrastructure in the village. Awdah was filming the incident. He ended up filming his own murder.
The cruel aftermath of Awdah’s murder is evidence that the current Israeli government is not interested in stopping settler violence. Despite witnesses and video documentation, Levy was released to roam the village within the week, and he remains free.
Awdah’s death is tragically not unique. Settler violence in the West Bank has more than quintupled in the past 6 years, and 94% of cases involving settler violence are dismissed without charge.
Today, one year after Awdah’s murder, we know that the status quo is untenable. NJN will always fight the occupation. We will work to end settler violence. We will continue fighting for a just, peaceful future for all.
Photo by Hadhalin - Masafir Yatta Municipal Council, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=171271628
