Calls Grow for U.S. to Reinstate Sanctions on Israeli Settlers After Palestinian Activist Is Killed Awdah Hathaleen Killed in Settler Shooting

On July 28, 2025, 31-year-old Palestinian activist and educator Awdah Hathaleen (also known as Odeh Hadalin)—who helped make the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land—was shot in the chest and later died during a confrontation with an Israeli settler in the West Bank village of Umm al-Khair in Masafer Yatta. Witnesses report that the shooting occurred amid tensions after settlers bulldozed Palestinian property, prompting stone-throwing by residents. Hathaleen was standing away from the clash when he was struck by gunfire. 

The alleged shooter, identified via video posted online, is Yinon Levi, a controversial settler previously sanctioned by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and Canada for prior violent acts. 

Israeli police briefly detained Levi but later released him to house arrest, sparking outrage. Meanwhile, four relatives of Hathaleen remain detained by Israeli authorities. 

Sanctions Rolled Back Under Trump

President Joe Biden had imposed sanctions on Levi and others under executive orders targeting settlers involved in violence or intimidation. However, President Donald Trump, on his first day in office in January 2025, reversed those sanctions, removing Levi from the U.S. blacklist. While the U.S. lifted penalties, the UK and EU continue to maintain sanctions on Levi and several other extremist settlers. 

Outrage and Calls for Accountability

Hathaleen’s killing has reignited international calls for the United States to reimpose sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in violence. At a State Department briefing, spokesperson Tammy Bruce was questioned sharply about whether the U.S. would immediately act to sanction the shooter, but declined to commit to any forthcoming measures, citing ongoing investigations by Israeli authorities. 

Rights groups and commentators argue the incident underscores systemic legal inequity: settlers operate under civilian law with frequent impunity, while Palestinians in occupied areas are subject to military occupation rules and harsher treatment. Activists say the judicial leniency afforded Levi, contrasted with the arrest of Hathaleen’s relatives, exemplifies this disparity. 

France condemned the killing, labelling it “terrorism”, and called on Israeli authorities to ensure accountability. 

Why This Incident Matters

1. Howe Awdah Hathaleen was a respected local leader and educator—also known to audiences through No Other Land—which documented life and resistance in Masafer Yatta. His death highlights how activism in vulnerable Palestinian communities is increasingly perilous.  
2. The video documentation of the shooting, showing Levi brandishing and firing a pistol amid a property dispute, contradicts claims of self-defense and reinforces concerns over settler violence escalating unchecked.  
3. The Trump administration’s reversal of sanctions continues to draw criticism from human rights advocates and international observers who see it as undermining efforts to curb settler aggression.  

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail	Information
Victim	Awdah Hathaleen (Odeh Hadalin), Palestinian activist, teacher, father of three
Location	Umm al-Khair, Masafer Yatta, West Bank
Alleged shooter	Yinon Levi – Israeli settler with prior sanctions
Initial detention	Arrested by Israeli police, later released to house arrest
Legal disparities	Hathaleen’s family detained under military law; Levi faces civilian legal leniency
Sanctions status	Reinstated by U.S. under Biden; lifted by Trump; EU/UK sanctions still in effect
Global reaction	Widespread condemnation; demands for renewed U.S. sanctions and accountability

Looking Ahead

The killing of Awdah Hathaleen has intensified scrutiny of U.S. policy toward settler violence. Human rights groups are demanding that Washington restore visa bans, asset freezes, and other sanctions against individuals like Levi. Meanwhile, activists say this moment reveals the growing impunity surrounding settler violence—a problem amplified by legal inconsistencies and shifting U.S. executive decisions.

With international condemnation mounting and the West Bank increasingly volatile, the U.S. faces mounting pressure to clarify its position on settler accountability—and to act decisively to prevent further tragedies.