An Israeli settler has shot and killed Palestinian activist and teacher Odeh Muhammad Hadalin in the village of Umm al-Khair, in Masafer Yatta, in the occupied West Bank. Hadalin was well known for his activism, including helping the creators of the Oscar-winning film No Other Land, which documents Israeli settler and soldier attacks on the Palestinian community of Masafer Yatta.
According to reports, Hadalin “was shot dead by settlers… during their attack on the village of Umm al-Khair” near Hebron. The two filmmakers behind No Other Land, Yuval Abraham and Basel Adra, confirmed that the activist was shot and killed. Adra wrote on social media that Hadalin “was standing in front of the community centre in his village when a settler fired a bullet that pierced his chest and took his life.” Adra added, “This is how Israel erases us — one life at a time.”
Abraham described Hadalin as “a remarkable activist who helped us film No Other Land in Masafer Yatta.” He also posted a video of the incident and said that “residents identified Yinon Levi, sanctioned by the EU and US, as the shooter.” Abraham stated, “This is him in the video firing like crazy.”
The Israeli police acknowledged that they were investigating an “incident near Carmel [al-Karmil],” an illegal Israeli settlement neighbouring Umm al-Khair. An Israeli citizen was detained at the scene and later arrested by police for questioning. Israeli soldiers also arrested four Palestinians “in connection with the incident, along with two foreign tourists who were at the scene.”
Hadalin’s death comes as Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem released a report on Monday accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. B’Tselem said that there has been an “unprecedented spike in daily attacks by settlers, often armed and equipped with full military gear, on Palestinians in the West Bank.” These attacks include arson, theft, home invasions and takeovers, armed threats, beatings, and more, and occur with the support of the “Israeli government and law enforcement agencies.”
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that another Palestinian, 27-year-old Mohammad Samer Suleiman al-Jamal, succumbed to his wounds after being shot by Israeli forces at a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Hebron on Monday night. The Israeli forces left Suleiman al-Jamal to bleed to death and prevented ambulance crews from reaching him.
Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023. More than 30 Israelis, including civilians and soldiers, have been killed in the occupied West Bank during the same period.