Oscar-Winning Documentary Consultant Slain in West Bank
Community Leader **Awdah Hathaleen** Fatally Shot
A Palestinian community leader and consultant for the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” **Awdah Hathaleen**, has died after being shot in the occupied West Bank. The incident reportedly occurred Monday when an Israeli settler allegedly opened fire.
Confrontation Captured on Video
Filmmaker and subject **Yuval Abraham** announced **Hathaleen**’s death via X, formerly Twitter. He stated, “[Hathaleen] just died. Murdered.” Earlier, **Abraham** shared video footage showing a confrontation where an individual, identified as Israeli settler **Yinon Levi**, is seen shoving people and firing a pistol.
This is him in the video firing like crazy. He just shot #AwdahHathaleen in the lungs. His name is Yinon Levi. pic.twitter.com/q4Yq006x8A
— Yuval Abraham (@yuval_abraham) June 11, 2024
**Levi** is among thirteen hard-line Israeli settlers previously sanctioned by the international community for alleged attacks against Palestinians. These sanctions were later lifted by the Trump administration.
Tragic Incident in Masafer Yatta
The fatal shooting took place in the village of Umm al-Khair, within the Masafer Yatta region, which is central to “No Other Land.” **Hathaleen**, aged 31, was transported to an Israeli hospital where he was pronounced deceased, his family confirmed to The New York Times.
Israeli police reported responding to the scene and detaining an Israeli citizen, though they did not identify the individual. Police also stated that “terrorists hurled rocks toward” a nearby Israeli settlement. The Israeli military additionally detained five Palestinians and two foreign tourists in connection with the incident, according to CNN and the BBC.
Witness Accounts and International Response
Another angle of the attack was shared on X by Palestinian journalist and filmmaker **Basel Adra**, a collaborator on “No Other Land.” The footage shows **Levi** brandishing a pistol and firing. **Adra** stated that **Levi** fired the fatal shot and that the suspect was released to house arrest.
This is @YinonLevi_il the settler who shot and killed #AwdahHathaleen.
He fired the bullet that took his life. And the apartheid court decided to release him to house arrest.pic.twitter.com/vjA1tF04oN
— Basel Adra (@basel_adra) June 12, 2024
In a prior tweet, **Adra** expressed his grief: “My dear friend Adwah was slaughtered this evening. He was standing in front of the community center in his village where a settler fired a bullet that pierced his chest and took his life.”
Remembering a Community Activist
The Center for Jewish Nonviolence remembered **Hathaleen** as a prominent community figure, describing him as “an activist, artist, and teacher.” The group noted that **Hathaleen** and another Palestinian man were recently denied entry, detained, and deported from San Francisco International Airport.
“So many in our community knew Awdah, and gained so much by learning from him, and being his friend. May Awdah’s memory be a revolution. May we see justice for Awdah, and justice for all Palestinians, within our lifetime.”
—The Center for Jewish Nonviolence
The Center for Jewish Nonviolence added, “May Awdah’s memory be a revolution. May we see justice for Awdah, and justice for all Palestinians, within our lifetime.”
Previous Attacks on “No Other Land” Team
Earlier this year, another member of the “No Other Land” team, Palestinian filmmaker **Hamdan Ballal**, was reportedly attacked by settlers. He was beaten in the head and stomach in the village of Susiya, also in the Masafer Yatta area. Residents stated that masked individuals, some armed and in military attire, attacked during Ramadan. Israeli authorities detained **Ballal** on suspicion of throwing rocks.
The documentary “No Other Land” details the demolition of Palestinian villages in Masafer Yatta for Israeli military use and the subsequent displacement of communities.
The ongoing conflict has seen a significant human toll. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported on Tuesday that over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its war against Hamas nearly two years ago. In the preceding 24 hours, 77 individuals were reported killed, many while seeking food (Gaza Health Ministry, July 29, 2025).
