Odeh Hadalin: Palestinian Activist Killed by Israeli Settler, Family Arrested

Killing of Odeh Hadalin

• Palestinian activist, teacher, and father of three, Odeh Muhammad Hadalin, was shot and killed by an Israeli settler near Hebron.
• Hadalin was a key figure in the production of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, which focuses on Palestinian struggles in Masafer Yatta.
• The shooter was identified as Yinon Levy, an Israeli settler previously sanctioned by the EU and Biden administration, with those sanctions later lifted by the Trump administration.

Witness Account of the Incident

• Alaa Hadalin, cousin and brother-in-law, described settlers and bulldozers encroaching on private Palestinian land.
• Peaceful attempts to stop the destruction were met with violence, including one brother being hit by a bulldozer.
• Levy arrived and, despite pleas not to shoot, opened fire, killing Odeh Hadalin who was not directly involved in the confrontation.

Post-Killing Repression

• Israeli soldiers raided a mourning party for Hadalin, using stun grenades and forcing attendees, including journalists, out.
• The army also raided the village later that night, arresting eight men, in addition to five arrested during the initial incident.
• In contrast, the suspect, Yinon Levy, was released to house arrest by an Israeli court.

Ongoing Harassment and Displacement Efforts

• The community in Masafer Yatta has faced constant pressure, harassment, and land seizures since the war in Gaza began.
• The Israeli army reportedly prevented Hadalin from being buried in his hometown, insisting on burial in a nearby town.
• Friends and colleagues described Odeh Hadalin as an exceptionally peaceful man who actively documented settler and army harassment.