Footage Reveals Moment When Palestinian Advocate was Fatally Shot
Recent video footage provides a chilling account of a Palestinian advocate's life coming to an abrupt end as he is shot by an Israeli settler. This incident took place during a conflict with non-armed Palestinians in a West Bank area under occupation.
The video, handed over by a human rights organization in Israel, captures the unsettling moment when an Israeli settler discharges a firearm in the direction of the person capturing the footage. Though the footage breaks off, the audio captures the person's distressing cries of pain.
The Victim and the Shooter
The video was reportedly filmed by Awdah Hathaleen, a 31-year-old activist, English teacher, and father of three. Hathaleen was shot and killed, and his family provided the footage. His shooter, seen firing his gun twice in a separate witness video, was briefly held in custody and then released by an Israeli court due to insufficient evidence.
The fatal shooting took place in Umm al-Khair, a village that has for a long time endured violence from settlers. This area was featured in an award-winning movie, "No Other Land." Attacks on Palestinians by settlers have surged since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict, as have assaults by Palestinian forces.
The Aftermath of the Shooting
The individual who shot Hathaleen had previously faced U.S. sanctions, which were lifted by the previous U.S. administration. Both videos seem to illustrate the same altercation between the shooter and a group of Palestinians. The initial video captures him firing two shots from his gun but does not show where the bullets landed. Several eyewitnesses have stated they saw him shoot Hathaleen.
The shooter's attorney has defended his client's actions, citing self-defense, although he did not expand on what these actions were. He pointed to the court's earlier decision to release him from house arrest, claiming there was insufficient evidence. The judge ruled that the shooter did not pose a risk that warranted ongoing house arrest, but banned him from interacting with the villagers for a month.
Israeli police have not yet responded to inquiries about whether they have viewed the videos.
What Led Up to the Shooting?
According to reports, the shooter was part of a team that brought an excavator from a nearby settlement into Umm al-Khair. Fearing that the excavator would sever the village's primary water supply, residents gathered on a dirt road to obstruct its path, and one person threw a stone at the vehicle's windshield.
The shooter then confronted the crowd while brandishing a handgun. The new video shows him in a heated argument with three men before firing the gun in the direction of the person filming. Hathaleen, who was standing about 130 feet away from the confrontation, was hit in the chest and fell to the ground instantly.
The attorney representing Hathaleen's family has stated that they informed him Hathaleen had captured the footage on his phone. He mentioned that the police requested the video, which they had not yet seen. The attorney is pressuring the district court to investigate the shooter for more serious offenses.
Aftermath of Hathaleen's Death
Following Hathaleen's death, his body was initially not returned for burial by the Israeli army, unless specific funeral conditions were met, including limiting the number of attendees and specifying the location. After an agreement was reached with the police a week later, his body was returned and buried.
Hathaleen had been vocal against settler violence and had contributed to the production of the award-winning film. His supporters have honored his memory by creating murals in Rome, holding vigils in New York, and displaying signs with his name at anti-war protests.
