Canada must demand justice for Awdah Hathaleen

Beloved husband, father, son, friend, teacher, and civil resister, Awdah Hathaleen, was shot dead by Israeli settler Yinon Levi on Monday, July 28th while defending his community of Umm Al-Khair from a settler attack. The IDF then abducted his body, and arrested over a dozen members of Awdah’s community, including international activists who were subsequently deported.

Updated: Since Thursday, July 31, 70 women from Umm Al-Khair, ages 13 to over 70, were on hunger strike until Awdah’s body was returned for proper burial. On August 7, Awdah’s body was released and a funeral took place. Hundreds gathered for the funeral. Still, despite the fact that there was an agreement that was supposed to allow all mourners to gather, many more were blocked from entering by Israeli forces.

Since Awdah’s murder, the IDF and settlers have raided the village daily, destroyed mourning tents, and the settler who murdered Awdah is free, even from house arrest. Despite video evidence and eyewitnesses to his violence, Levi has faced no consequences for his actions. Levi is so violent that he was previously subject to sanctions by the EU, UK, US, and Canada over past attacks on Palestinians. Those US sanctions were removed by Donald Trump. Sanctions by Canada remain on Yinon Levy (Levi). Now, Levi is at-large, even coming back into the community he has terrorized. And the risk that members of the Umm al Kheir community will be arrested in the coming days, weeks and years remains high as injustice reigns. Israel’s system of abuse for Palestinians in prisons is well-documented. This reflects Israel’s apartheid system that must end.

Awdah’s murder is devastating and reflects the state-sanctioned system of impunity for Israeli settlers as they continue to wage murderous violence against Palestinians. At least 1,010 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,000 have been injured in the West Bank by Israeli settlers and soldiers since October 2023.

Send a letter NOW to PM Mark Carney, Foreign Minister Anita Anand,  Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu and Canada's rep to Palestine Graham Dattels, demanding that Canada take action to sanction Israel and its state-sponsored violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and ongoing genocide in Gaza.

artist: @laika1954

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