The murder of a Palestinian activist who supported a documentary film

• Auda Khatalin, a Palestinian activist, was killed near the settlement.
• The murder occurred during an attack on the village of Umm al-Hayr.
• Violence is escalating from the side of Israeli settlers in the western bank.

The Palestinian activist and filmmaker Auda Muhammad Khatalin was shot by an Israeli settler on July 29, 2025, in the village of Umm al-Hayr, located in the Masafar Yatta region in the western bank of the Jordan River. The Ministry of Education of the Palestinian Authority confirmed this information, stating that Khatalin was killed during an attack by settlers on his village.

Auda, 31 years old, was known for his active stance against the expulsion of Palestinians in Masafar Yatta and supported the production of the documentary film "No Other Land," which won an Oscar for highlighting the consequences of violence from Israeli military and settlers in his community. According to the film's co-directors, Khatalin was killed while settlers were shooting in the direction of people protesting against the confiscation of their lands.

Israeli media reported that the shooter was Yonatan Levi, who had previously been subjected to sanctions from the US. Although Levi was arrested for questioning, no charges against him have been presented. Local residents assert that Khatalin stood in front of the community center when the bullet struck him.

The increase in violence from Israeli settlers in the western bank has been noted recently. Since July 2023, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the region, prompting international concern.

Tags: Middle East/Crime