Palestinian activist Odeh Hathalin, who worked on Oscar-winning film, shot dead in West Bank
Odeh Hathalin, who was a consultant on 'No Other Land,' a film that documented Israeli settler and military attacks on the Palestinian community of Masafer Yatta, was shot in the village of Umm al-Khair.
Hathalin was "shot in the upper body" and later succumbed to his injuries. A second Palestinian was also injured in the attack after being beaten by the settler. He is currently admitted to a hospital, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
Also Read: Sonia Gandhi slams PM Modi for 'silence' on Gaza: 'Height of moral cowardice'
The Israeli Police has detained the Israeli civilian and he was later arrested for questioning, CNN reported.
The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Education said he was "shot dead by settlers during their attacks on the village of Umm al-Khair'.
However, the Israeli military said that 'terrorists hurled rocks toward Israeli civilians near Carmel.'
Yuval Abraham, the Israeli journalist who co-directed 'No Other Land', posted a video of the incident and said, "An Israeli settler just shot Odeh Hadalin in the lungs."
"Residents identified Yinon Levi, sanctioned by the EU and US, as the shooter. This is him in the video firing like crazy," Abraham added in the X post.
The violence in the West Bank by Israeli settlers have surged since the October 7 attacks and at least 964 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in such attacks.
Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank are illegal under international law, according to CNN.
France calls Israeli settlers' violence 'acts of terrorism'
The French government issued a statement saying "it was deeply saddened to learn of the murder of Odeh Hathalin, who represented the village of Umm al-Khair in the Masafer Yatta Valley".
Also Read: Israel's big warning to Ali Khamenei: 'Will reach Iran and you personally'
"France condemns this murder in the strongest possible terms, along with all the violence that extremist settlers are deliberately inflicting on the Palestinian population and which is spreading throughout the West Bank," the statement said.
The French government also called the violent actions as "acts of terrorism" and said that settlers have killed more than 30 people since 2022.
The Israeli authorities must uphold their responsibilities and immediately punish the perpetrators of such violence, which is continuing with impunity, and protect Palestinian civilians, the statement added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
a minute ago
- Deccan Herald
In Gaza, hunger as a weapon of war
The genocide and famine engineered by Israel in Gaza have raised new questions to a world that has continued to fail with answers. A humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions has unfolded in Gaza after the Israeli government imposed a near-total siege and prevented all aid from reaching the strip, while continuing military action. The situation may be political and diplomatic, but at its core is a deeply moral issue. During the Holocaust, the world did not have knowledge of the full extent of the atrocities. But the genocide in Gaza is taking place in full view of the world – a section of the international community is complicit by supporting Israel, while others are unable to stop it for various reasons. Evidence has emerged on widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease causing a spike in hunger-related deaths. Malnutrition levels among children under five have reached 16.5%..Israel has violated all tenets of morality and international law. The International Court of Justice has passed strictures against the regime and acknowledged the risk of genocide in Gaza. The United Nations and major international humanitarian bodies such as Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders have expressed serious concern over the situation in Gaza. More than at any time in history, hunger is being used as a weapon of war. Access to water is restricted and there are severe curbs on supply of fuel and other commodities. Not even basic medical facilities are available and offers of medical aid and assistance are turned away. As much as 92% of the houses in Gaza have been destroyed and forced displacement orders have been issued in about 86% of the territory. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, set up by Israel and the US, is a cruel joke, running just four distribution centres against the 400 that the UN and the other agencies had the failure of the indirect ceasefire and hostage release talks in Doha, there are reports of Israel planning a bigger offensive for the 'conquest of Gaza'. The talks had aimed at a 60-day truce, inflow of aid, and exchange of half of the Israeli hostages with jailed Palestinians in Israel. There is opposition in Israel to the extension of war, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sounded determined and US President Donald Trump supportive. The UN Conference on Palestine has proposed a two-state solution and some of the major countries, including France and the UK, have decided to recognise a Palestinian state. More than 145 countries have recognised Palestine. The question the world must answer is why it has failed to recognise and act on the basic human responsibility to the people of Palestine.
News18
12 minutes ago
- News18
Israeli President demands truth after German media exposes fake Gaza photography
Tel Aviv [ Israel], August 7 (ANI/TPS): During a visit to Tallinn on Wednesday, President Isaac Herzog of Israel used a joint press appearance with Estonian President Alar Karis to call out what he described as Hamas-led propaganda efforts, citing recent investigative reports from leading German newspapers that revealed staged images from Gaza. Herzog contrasted these fabricated scenes with the very real suffering of Israeli hostages, exposing what he called Hamas' 'hypocrisy and manipulation."Standing alongside President Karis at the Estonian Presidential Palace, Herzog held up two photos: one of Israeli hostage Eviatar David, a Nova music festival attendee now emaciated after months in captivity; and another of Rom Breslavsky, who appeared in a recent Hamas video. Herzog juxtaposed these with a now-controversial image from Gaza showing Palestinians holding empty pots in front of a food distribution center. 'It was all staged," Herzog said. 'There was food in the next room — the hostages who escaped from tunnels told us this. The captors are not starving. Our people are."His remarks follow revelations from the Suddeutsche Zeitung, which published an expose showing how Hamas uses staged imagery to sway international opinion. According to the investigation, professional photographers — some working with international news agencies — were found directing civilians to pose with empty pots and in fabricated scenarios meant to convey starvation. 'At least some of the images were presented in a false or misleading context," the paper such photographer, identified by Bild as Anas Zayed Fatiyeh, was hired by Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency. Fatiyeh, according to the report, regularly posts anti-Israel content on social media, including expletive-laden messages and calls to 'Free Palestine." His photographs have been published in major outlets such as the BBC and CNN despite their questionable authenticity.'Why are German and international news agencies continuing to use his images when many are clearly biased or staged?" Bild manipulation of war photography triggered alarm within Germany's press circles. The German Journalists' Association (DJV) issued a statement warning of 'manipulation attempts through professionally produced press photography." DJV Chair Mika Beuster noted that 'all parties involved in this war — including media and intelligence services — are using the power of imagery like never before to shape public perception."A historian and visual documentation expert interviewed by Suddeutsche Zeitung added that while not all such images are outright fakes, they are often 'positioned a certain way or paired with misleading captions that tap into our visual memory and emotions."Herzog urged the international community to resist falling for such distortions. 'We do not deny the humanitarian need in Gaza," he said, 'but we ask the world not to fall for Hamas' lies. Condemn Hamas and tell them: You want to move forward? Release the hostages."He emphasized that Israel has drastically increased its humanitarian aid efforts, saying, 'In the last week alone, we've brought in 30,000 tons of aid — 30 tons by air yesterday alone. The UN has almost 800 trucks they could distribute — and failed to do so. So a lot could have been done."A special report by The Press Service of Israel on Thursday found that according to the UN's own numbers, a staggering 85% of the aid entering the Gaza Strip by truck since May 19 has been stolen. The investigation found that a combination of black market profiteers and inflation have made much of the aid in Gaza markets unaffordable for most sources inside Gaza told TPS-IL that much of the food in the markets originated from international aid for months — including American shipments — but is resold at inflated prices, sometimes 300%. Basic staples like flour and rice, originally meant for free distribution, are reportedly diverted to private Palestinian in Gaza City told TPS-IL, 'The flour — when it enters Gaza, they steal it. And now they're going to raise the price from 30 to 60 shekels [$8.80 to $17.70]. It's unbelievable."Professor Eytan Gilboa an expert in international relations and media at Reichman University in Herzliya, told TPS-IL, 'There is some hunger in Gaza, and it exists only in places Hamas is pursuing it, not in other areas."In 2024, experts told TPS-IL that two Gaza-based Palestinian freelance photojournalists comitted war crimes by entering Israel during Hamas's October 7 a Jerusalem-based media watchdog, found that freelance photographers Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa and Ashraf Amra entered Israel to photograph the attacks. They then returned to Khan Yunis and went on Amra's Instagram Live account and excitedly shared a video of a mob pulling an Israeli soldier out of a tank, urging Palestinians to join the attack. Mostafa's photos were published by Reuters while Amra's were credited to 'Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images."Approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 50 remaining hostages, around 30 are believed to be dead. (ANI/TPS)
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
Israeli military-political command divided over PM Netanyahu's plans to conquer Gaza, warns of heavy casualties
Jerusalem, Aug 6 (UNI) Amidst Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to fully occupy Gaza, much friction has emerged between the political and military establishment in the country, with senior military officials warning the premier that a full occupation of the Gaza Strip could result in heavy casualties among Israeli forces and endanger the lives of remaining hostages. The warning comes amid growing concerns over Netanyahu's reported push to seize complete control of the enclave, where the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) already hold over 75% of the territory, reports Times of Israel. According to Israeli broadcaster Kan, defence officials have estimated that such an operation could result in 'dozens' of soldiers being killed and many more wounded. They further cautioned that a sweeping ground campaign could jeopardise the lives of hostages under Hamas custody, particularly in areas the IDF has avoided due to this very fear. The move has created friction even among Netanyahu's supporters within the Israeli military leadership and its political command, with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir having reportedly advised the adoption of more cautioned and restrained approach. Lt Gen Zamir had proposed the encirclement of Gaza City rather than launch a full-scale military occupation to avoid both losses and structural damage. Netanyahu, however, is said to have rejected this recommendation and ordered plans to move ahead with the full military conquest. The Israeli PM's plans have also drawn criticism from opposition leaders, including from both Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Opposition leader Yair Lapid, latter of whom terming the Israeli PM's plans 'a very bad idea.' Speaking during a security briefing, Lapid reportedly told Netanyahu that the Israeli public does not support such a move and warned that the cost — both in human lives and economically — would be too high. 'You don't send the State of Israel to war unless the majority of the people are behind you,' Lapid told Netanyahu. 'The price will be too heavy.' He urged the government to consider an alternative solution, suggesting that Arab states could take over the administration of Gaza, allowing Israel to focus on neutralising Hamas operatives, instead of getting entangled in prolonged occupation. Netanyahu, who held a three-hour security discussion with top officials yesterday, is expected to present the plan to the full security cabinet for approval today. Despite the military's warnings and the political command urging for alternatives, the cabinet is reportedly poised to greenlight the move. UNI XC ANV GNK
