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Community on hunger strike over the murder of Awdah Hathaleen by far-right Zionist

More than 60 women have been on hunger strike since last Thursday in the occupied West Bank village of Umm Al-Kheir, Masafer Yatta, to demand the body of community leader Awdah Muhammad Khalil Al-Hathaleen is returned:

Body of Awadah Hathaleen withheld from family

On 28 July, Awdah, who was an activist, English teacher, father of three young children-and unarmed, was shot dead in broad daylight by an illegal Israeli settler, Yinon Levi. This incident occurred while the village was experiencing a violent attack my armed settlers, who were destroying village land with heavy machinery. Levi, who is sanctioned by the UK, the EU and Canada, is now roaming free, while the Israeli police are not only continuing to detain seven Palestinians from Umm Al-Kheir, but have failed to return Awdah’s body, denying his devastated family and friends any closure.

Although two of the women have already received medical treatment, due to their hunger strike, they say they will not stop their action until their demands are met. Now in their sixth day, teenagers and older people alike are taking part.

One of the hunger-strikers told the Canary:

We will continue in this hunger strike until, with God’s help, they will release the body. It’s the least we can do for Awdah. He was loved by everyone, and helped everyone. Every small child in the village knows and loves him. We demand for the whole world, for everyone who is able, for anyone who has a voice, to help us return Awdah’s body.

After being pronounced dead at the hospital, Awdah’s body was taken for an autopsy, which was completed two days later. But instead of returning the body to his family, to begin the traditional mourning process, the police have said they will only return the body if Awdah’s burial takes place at nighttime, outside the village boundaries, and with no more than 15 guests.

A traditional mourning tent, which last week had already been destroyed by the occupation, is also not permitted.

Bodies as ‘bargaining chips’ for Israel

A dignified burial is a right which is protected under international humanitarian and human rights law, and belongs to both the deceased and their families. However, for Palestinians it is a right which the occupation systematically denies.

Miriam Azem is an International Advocacy Coordinator for Adalah, the legal centre for Arab minority rights in Israel. She told the Canary that:

In the case of Awdah Hathaleen, Israeli authorities are reportedly withholding his body to suppress the funeral and prevent public mourning, in direct violation of religious and cultural traditions. This is not an isolated incident. Israeli authorities have long withheld the bodies of Palestinians, both to restrict funerals and to use the deceased as bargaining chips in future political negotiations, with over 600 bodies currently being held for these purposes. These policies reflect Israel’s ongoing assault on Palestinian life, dignity, and fundamental rights, even in death.

The community has refused the restrictive conditions issued by the police, and the women say they will continue their hunger strike until their demands are met. These demands are: the return of Awdah’s body, the release of the seven Palestinians from Umm Al-Kheir who still remain in detention after being arrested during last week’s violent incident, and also the arrest of Levi.

Levi free to continue terrorising the community, despite murdering Awdah

On Monday 4 August, Levi was back in Umm Al-Kheir helping bulldoze the village land, accompanied and supported by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF). These armed Zionist settlers, although illegal under international law, have the full support and protection of the occupation – its military, police, and even the government – and are launching daily attacks on unarmed Palestinians in the occupied West Bank: setting fire to their property and olive trees, damaging Palestinian infrastructure, stealing their water supplies, and blocking entrances to Palestinian towns and villages.

Israeli forces and settlers have killed more than 965 Palestinians since 7 October 2023, in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, while 350 Palestinians have been injured by settlers so far in 2025, an average of nearly two per day. Sanctions from the international community have made little difference to them, and they continue operating with complete impunity – as Awdah’s murder shows.

Featured image supplied

By Charlie Jaay

This post was originally published on Canary.