The tragic killing of Palestinian filmmaker and activist Awdah Hathaleen has sparked outrage among Bay Area leaders and human rights advocates, highlighting the ongoing violence in the West Bank and systemic challenges faced by Palestinian activists.

Hathaleen, an English teacher and father of three, was a collaborator on the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” which exposes violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers. Despite holding a valid visa, he was denied entry to the United States at San Francisco International Airport in June, preventing him from speaking at conferences about the struggles in his home region of Masafer Yatta.

U.S. Rep. Lateefah Simon from Oakland expressed deep concern, stating she is “heartbroken” by Hathaleen’s death and is seeking answers from the State Department about his unjust deportation. The alleged perpetrator, Yinon Levi, who was previously sanctioned for leading violent groups, is believed to have shot Hathaleen in the lung.

Congressman John Garamendi pointed to the Trump administration’s decision to lift sanctions on violent Israeli settlers as a contributing factor. “Violence by Israeli settlers against peaceful Palestinians has been all too common, and we must demand accountability,” Garamendi emphasized.

The Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the ongoing violence, with Executive Director Zahra Billoo calling for accountability from the U.S. government for “continuing to fund and shield a regime that enables this violence”.

According to United Nations data, approximately 650 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank between January 2024 and June 2025, including 121 children. The Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area remembered Hathaleen as a friend known for his “boisterous laughter even in the face of unimaginable oppression”.

As the Bay Area community mourns Hathaleen’s loss, local leaders continue to demand transparency, justice, and a comprehensive investigation into his killing.