State terrorism: what reveals the murder of activist Awdah Hathaleen

The murder of Palestinian teacher and activist Awdah Hathaleen, consultant for the Oscar-winning documentary at the Other Land, by an Israeli settler in the village of Umm Al-Khair, in the occupied Whently, rekindled international outrage at settlers violence.

Hathaleen was shot in the chest last Monday (28), by settler Yinon Levi, already sanctioned by the European Union and the United Kingdom for previous attacks, during a new episode of the invasion of Palestinian lands in southern Hebron.

Death occurs in a context of escalating violence against Palestinians in West Bank. UN data indicate that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023 in the region, in settlers and the Israeli army, and that the attacks have intensified in recent weeks.

In Umm Al-Khair, according to witnesses, Levi opened fire after residents tried to prevent the destruction of properties by an excavator.

“[Levi] Immediately began to throw randomly at all. We said to him, ‘There are many people here, there are kids – don’t shoot!’ But he shot it anyway. Awdah was not even involved, ”Alaa Hathaleen, the activist’s brother -in -law, told local press.

The case generated a wave of international convictions. France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs classified the violence of settlers as “terrorism” and demanded that Israel hold the Hathaleen killer.

“France condemns this murder in the strongest terms and all deliberate violence perpetrated by extremist settlers against the Palestinian population,” the French government said in an official statement.

The repression also reached the mourning by the victim. On Tuesday (29), about a dozen Israeli soldiers invaded the hathaleen mourning tent in Umm Al-Khair, expelled residents and journalists, and arrested two international activists in yet another demonstration of impunity guaranteed to armed settlers.

“Going to where they killed him, where they killed him, and expelling people? This is not life, this is against any law of the world,” protested Alaa Hathaleen.

Impunity in the occupied Whell is a government plan, says activist

The death of Awdah Hathaleen exposed, once again, the impunity surrounding the attacks of Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. Levi was arrested after the attack but placed under house arrest less than 24 hours later, while seven Palestinians – including two international activists – were arrested by the Israeli Army in the same operation.

Human rights lawyer Michael Sfard, one of the most recognized in Israel, said the armed settlers act with “almost complete impunity” in the country.

“Justice, which in the past already appeared in rhythm of miracles, has completely disappeared. Therefore, the violence of settlers is state violence and serves Israel’s political and ideological interests,” said Sfard.

In France, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that the escalation of settlers’ violence and the attachment policy of the West Bank are illegal in the light of international law. The French government has also asked Israel to stop the attacks and allow investigations to advance.

Palestinian activists stated that the death of Hathaleen symbolizes the project of disintegration of the community of Masafer Yatta, the target of forced evictions and destruction of houses by Israel.

Hathaleen, who was a teacher and father of three children, documenting the continuous pressure on the region’s villages in reports. In his latest text published in +972, he wrote that the occupation condemned his community to the “multigenerational trauma.”

Climbing violence and annexation project

The death of Awdah Hathaleen is inserted in a broader framework of climbing violence in the occupied West Bank and the advance of the annexation project promoted by the far right government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

United Nations data show that since October 2023 more than a thousand Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank for shares of settlers and the Israeli army. Only July 15 and 21, the UN recorded 27 settlements of settlers resulting in deaths or destruction of properties.

The settlers act armed and with wide political protection, especially after the arrival of Smotrich and Ben Gvir to the key posts of the government.

In addition to expanding illegal settlements, they openly defend the mass expulsion of Palestinians. The villages of Masafer Yatta, where he lived Hathaleen, are the recurring target of these actions: demolished houses, destroyed water networks and confiscated lands.

In one of his latest articles, Hathaleen wrote that the occupation “condemns the community to multigenerational trauma,” describing as children systematically witnessing demolition operations.

Human rights organizations warn that the strategic objective of the Israeli government is to fragment and expel the Palestinian communities of the West Bank, consolidating the annexation of the territory.

“These attacks are not isolated. They are linked to Israel’s long -term project for West Bank,” the groups say.

Holanda Bane Smotrich and Ben Gvir and the EU and the EU.

Rather, international indignation with the violence of Jewish terrorists in the occupied West Bank had also been expressed in political measures. The Netherlands announced on Monday (28) that Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich (Finance) and Itamar Ben Gvir (National Security) were declared Personality are not grateful and are prohibited from entering the country.

According to Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, the decision is based on “repeated incitement to the violence of settlers against Palestinians, defending the expansion of illegal settlements and apology for ethnic cleaning in Gaza”.

In a letter to Parliament, Veldkamp stated that both were officially included in the migratory system as “unwanted foreigners.”

The measure was approved at an emergency meeting of the Dutch Office, which also announced 4.5 million euros in humanitarian aid to Gaza and the almost total suspension of weapon export licenses to Israel.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof also said that the Netherlands will press the European Union to adopt commercial sanctions and suspend Israel’s participation in the Horizon Europe research program for violating human rights obligations.

The Netherlands join a growing list of countries that have already banned Smotrich and Ben Gvir, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Slovenia.

“In a place where terrorism is tolerated and terrorists are welcome, an unwanted Jewish minister,” Ben Gvir reacted in a message on social networks. Smotrich accused the Netherlands of “surrendering to the lies of radical Islam” and said that “Jews will never be safe in Europe, as they have not been in the past.”