Awdah Hathaleen; a webinar and a call to action on his murder

JVL Introduction

We published one of many reports on the murder of peace activist, husband and father of three small boys, Awdah Hathaleen from Umm El Khair by a settler here. and this article included his last contribution via Zoom where he was reaching out to activists, including many Jewish activists, the night before his murder.  Like Michael Sfard  who said “I have never felt as helpless as I do these days.” Awdah’s optimism was gone.  The next day he was murdered.

The settler “suspected” of his murder was released to house arrest the next day and even these restrictions have now been lifted.  Meanwhile several Palestinians from Awdah’s village are still incarcerated since the incident, although  no Israelis were attacked.

Now the Israeli authorities are holding on to his body, they have already removed internationals who were offering their condolences to the family and are insisting that he be buried quietly, at night. The women of the village have been on hunger strike since Thursday and vow to continue until he is returned.

His murder has sparked outrage across the world and his is one of the few murders of Palestinians that has been covered by the mainstream media.  There have also been demonstrations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv calling for the release of his body to the family and vigils in Canada and the USA.

Awdah was involved in the Oscar winning film “No Other Land” about Masafer Yatta and was a good friend to Basel Asra, the Palestinian who, along with Israeli colleague, directed that film.   He has always been committed to peaceful resistance and working in partnership with all who were committed to peace and justice for all.

Below is an invitation from the Centre for Jewish Nonviolence, who had worked closely with Awdah, to a webinar taking place on Tuesday 5th August (6 pm UK time) and a communication from Na’amod asking that we write to the David Lammy and Hamish Falconer as well as a link to writing by Awdah.

LL

Our beloved friend, colleague, teacher, and coresister Awdah Hathaleen was shot dead by an Israeli settler last Monday while defending his community. The next day as mourners gathered to pray and grieve, soldiers arrived to disrupt proceedings, and threatened to dismantle the traditional mourning tent the village is using to host the bereaved and hold prayers.

Military raids have continued since then with 20 community residents detained, and the state of Israel is refusing to return Awdah’s body for burial and are imposing conditions for its release, including limiting the funeral to 15 people, and requiring his funeral to be outside of Umm Il-Kheir.

Awdah’s wife Hanady and the women of Umm Il-Kheir initiated a collective hunger strike last Thursday, and the residents of Umm Il-Kheir are calling for people around the world to host solidarity encampments and mourning tents in their communities as part of an emergency campaign demanding the release of Awdah’s body and of his family being held in Ofer Prison.

Join us along with Green Olive Collective and IfNotNow for an emergency webinar this Tuesday in mourning and solidarity with Umm Il-Kheir as they invite the international community to participate in this globally coordinated action in protest of the Israeli authorities and the diplomatic impunity granted by the US, UK, and EU. We will talk with community resident and civil resister Tariq Hathaleen about the ways we can act collectively for justice alongside Umm Il-Kheir residents facing lethal violence and forced expulsion.

The webinar is taking place on Tuesday, August 5th:
8PM Jerusalem, 7PM Berlin, 6PM UK, 1PM NYC.

Register here. 

And from Na’amod asking that we write to our Ministers to lean on Israel to release Awdah’s body.

Last week, Palestinian community leader, teacher and activist, Awdah Hathleen, was murdered in his village of Um Al Kheir. 

Awdah was a dear friend to many Na’amod members. As a movement, we are heartbroken by his murder.

Awdah was beloved by his students, his family and the many activists and visitors that came to Um Al Kheir to hear his story. Um al Kheir was Awdah’s home; he was born there, and the community want to bury him there and grieve this unconscionable murder.

Yet Israel is refusing to release Awdah’s body.

The women of Um Al Kheir – led by Awdah’s mother, wife and sister – have began a hunger strike. They are asking for the most human of dignities, to bury their son, husband and brother in his village. They have asked us to demand that the UK government pressure Israel to release Awdah’s body.

While it was Levy who pulled the trigger, it is Israel’s system of occupation and apartheid that is responsible for Awdah’s murder. Last week this system saw murder committed on camera with impunity and state and military support, yet it has subjected Palestinians to daily violence, oppression and indignity for decades.

The UK Government must use every lever available to grant Um al Kheir the basic dignity of burying its dead, and to end the injustice of occupation and apartheid.

Join us in writing to Foreign Minister David Lammy and Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer, and show solidarity with the Um al Kheir community and their courageous protest to achieve this basic dignity for Awdah and his family in the face of such violent injustice.