Palestinian Oscar-Winning Documentary Filmmaker Shot Dead West Bank

Awdah Hathaleen, a Palestinian activist and co-director who contributed to the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," was shot dead by Israeli settler Yinon Levi in the occupied West Bank, an incident captured on video and widely condemned. Levi, known for extremist settler violence and previously sanctioned by the US under President Joe Biden, had those sanctions lifted by President Donald Trump in 2025 but remains sanctioned by the UK and EU. The shooting occurred during a confrontation in Umm al-Khair village, Masafer Yatta, a focal point of the documentary that highlights Palestinians' struggle against land seizure and violence from Israeli settlers. Following the killing, Levi was arrested but released to house arrest, while Israeli authorities detained several Palestinians, including Hamdan Bilal, another co-director of the documentary, who was reportedly assaulted by settlers and later detained by the Israeli military. International activists and rights groups mourned Hathaleen's death, emphasizing his role in documenting home demolitions and resisting displacement, with the documentary itself receiving acclaim for its portrayal of the tense coexistence and conflict in the region. The violence underscores ongoing tensions in Masafer Yatta, where Israeli settlements and military actions continue to threaten Palestinian communities.