Israel Conflict Sees Settler Remain Free After Forensic Probe Finds Unlawful Palestinian Killing
In the Israel conflict, forensic investigators determined that an Israeli settler unlawfully shot and killed 31-year-old Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the West Bank village of Umm al-Kheir in 2025 despite facing no imminent threat, yet the shooter remained at liberty. [1]
Unlawful Killing of Palestinian Activist
Forensic investigation finds that Yinon Levi unlawfully shot 31-year-old Awdah Hathaleen in Umm al-Kheir village in 2025 despite facing no imminent threat. [1] The probe established that the Israeli occupier remained at liberty after the killing of the Palestinian activist. [1] Investigators concluded the shooting occurred without any imminent threat to the settler. [1] The findings highlight the absence of accountability measures in the case involving the death of the 31-year-old activist. [1] Details from the investigation point to an unlawful act carried out in the West Bank village during 2025. [1]
Power Cuts During West Bank Raid
The Israeli army cut electricity to three West Bank communities including Turmus Ayya by targeting their main transformer during a raid. [2] Electricity was cut to Turmus Ayya and two neighboring villages during the army raid, according to local sources. [2] The targeting of the main transformer left the communities without power. [2] This action formed part of operations in the West Bank amid the Israel conflict. [2]
Israeli army targets main transformer cutting power to three West Bank communities. — Source: anadolu
Viral Photo of Soldiers Posing With Blindfolded Palestinian
A viral Instagram photo showing two female Israeli soldiers smiling while posing next to a blindfolded young Palestinian man sitting on the ground with his head down sparked widespread online anger before being removed. [3] The image was shared on the personal Instagram account of Nikol Stelmashvski and featured a Hebrew-language caption marking the end of her military service. [3] By the following day the photograph was removed from the carousel amid critical comments, after which the account settings were changed to private. [3] Screengrabs of the scene circulated widely online, with users describing the act as turning humiliation into a moment of celebration. [3] This type of photograph is not new, as Israeli soldiers have widely shared footage from the Palestinian enclave since the start of the Gaza conflict. [3]
Extremist Settler Groups Fueling Pogroms
Extremist Jewish settler groups including Lehava, Hilltop Youth, Price Tag, Netzah Yehuda Battalion, and 'This Land Is Ours' have driven armed pogroms in the occupied West Bank that killed at least 76 Palestinians this year. [4] More than 780,000 Israeli settlers now live across roughly 542 settlements and outposts in the occupied West Bank. [4] Lehava, founded in 1999 by Bentzi Gopstein, draws inspiration from the late rabbi and convicted terrorist Meir Kahane and has more than 100,000 members while openly advocating for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. [4] The Hilltop Youth operates in small cells that seize Palestinian land to establish illegal outposts and has been linked to attacks including the 2015 Duma arson attack. [4] The Price Tag movement carries out arson attacks, stone-throwing, the uprooting of olive trees and assaults to exact a price for actions against illegal settlement construction. [4] The Netzah Yehuda Battalion has escorted settlers carrying out pogroms, with members participating in the attacks. [4] Settlers led by far-right politician and rabbi Moshe Feiglin under 'This Land Is Ours' have established outposts on at least 15 hilltops. [4]
Israeli soldiers pose with a blindfolded Palestinian in the West Bank. — Source: middleeasteye
International Condemnation and Investigation Record
Portugal's foreign minister condemned the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank and called for maximum restraint and civilian protection. [5] An investigation by war monitor Action on Armed Violence last year found that nearly 90 percent of Israeli military investigations into allegations of abuse by its soldiers since October 2023 had either been closed or produced no findings. [3] Videos shared by soldiers include celebrations while blowing up civilian buildings such as homes, mosques and universities. [3] One soldier shared a photo online in which he appears to use a blindfolded Palestinian man to advertise a private business. [3] Soldiers have also been photographed holding stacks of money looted from Palestinian homes and posing in women’s underwear taken from homes. [3] Just last month an Israeli soldier posted a photo of a blindfolded, undressed Palestinian man in a stress position with the Hebrew caption “Good morning.” [3] The Israeli army stated it had identified the incident and launched a command investigation, adding that those involved will be dealt with in accordance with the findings. [3]
Pattern of Reported Abuses Amid the Israel Conflict
Israeli soldiers have shared images and videos of alleged abuses against Palestinians including blindfolding, stress positions, looting, and destruction of civilian buildings since the start of the Gaza conflict. [3] Nearly 90 percent of Israeli military investigations into alleged soldier abuse since October 2023 have been closed or produced no findings. [3] The low rate of accountability has drawn comments that the Israeli army revels in depravity and no one is holding Israel to account. [3] Portugal's foreign minister separately called for maximum restraint and protection of civilians in response to the escalating violence. [5] These elements form part of the broader record of reported incidents in the West Bank during the Israel conflict. [3]
What to watch next: The UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process warned the UN Security Council that settler attacks are kindling a large-scale escalation, while Portugal's foreign minister continues to call for maximum restraint and civilian protection in the occupied West Bank.
