Israeli Settler Yinon Levi Indicted for Reckless Manslaughter in South Hebron Incident

The State Prosecutor's Office has filed an indictment against 33-year-old Yinon Levi from Maon, charging him with reckless manslaughter. The indictment, submitted to the Beersheba District Court, alleges that Levi ordered the unauthorized creation of a new road on private land in southern Mount Hebron, which sparked a confrontation leading to the death of Odah Alhadlin. Levi, a contractor responsible for earthworks developing a new neighborhood in the Hebron Regional Council, employed a 17-year-old minor as a bulldozer operator. At the end of a workday, Levi instructed the operator to avoid the designated access route and instead break through a new path crossing private property. This action drew a crowd of local villagers who tried to block the bulldozer and documented the event. During the incident, the bulldozer struck a protester, causing head and shoulder injuries. Despite this, Levi signaled the operator to continue and break through another fence. The situation escalated into a violent clash with stone-throwing by some villagers. Levi reportedly shouted at the crowd, assaulted a protester, and smashed a phone recording the event. He then drew a firearm, fired a shot parallel to the ground toward village buildings where people, including children, were present, fatally wounding Odah Alhadlin, who was about 20 meters away in the community center yard. Levi subsequently fired a warning shot into the air and warned the crowd against throwing stones. The indictment accuses Levi of reckless manslaughter, illegal entry while armed, and intentional property damage. Levi is one of four settlers sanctioned earlier this year by U.S. President Joe Biden, leading to the freezing of their bank accounts by Bank Leumi, a move criticized by the religious-national public and politicians such as MK Tzvi Sukkot. The case was investigated by the Hebron police station and will proceed in the Beersheba District Court.