Palestinian American Beaten To Death By Israeli Settlers In West Bank, Family Says

A Palestinian American man from Florida, 20-year-old Sayfollah Musallet, was beaten to decease by settlers successful nan Israeli-occupied West Bank connected Friday, July 11, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Musallet’s family said successful a connection that he was killed “in our family’s onshore by Israeli settlers who were attempting to bargain it.”

Another man was reportedly shot to death during nan aforesaid incident.

Israeli settlers surrounded Musallet for complete 3 hours, and “blocked nan ambulance and paramedics from providing life-saving aid,” his family said.

Once nan group of Israeli settlers was cleared, Musallet’s family said, his younger relative rushed him to nan ambulance, but he died earlier he could get nan hospital.

In nan statement, Musallet’s family members said he had traveled to Palestine connected June 4 to walk clip pinch loved ones. Known arsenic “Saif,” Musallet was a “beloved personnel of nan community,” and was known for his “generosity, ambition and relationship to his Palestinian heritage,” his family said.

“This is an unimaginable nightmare and an injustice that nary family should ever person to face,” Musallet’s family said. “We request nan U.S. State Department lead an contiguous investigation and clasp nan Israeli settlers who killed Saif accountable for their crimes. We request justice.”

A spokesperson for nan State Department told Straight Arrow News they tin corroborate nan decease of a United States national successful nan West Bank from July 11, but added that “out of respect for nan privateness of nan family and loved ones, we person nary further remark astatine this time.”

To NBC, nan Israel Defense Forces said it’s “aware of reports regarding a Palestinian civilian killed and a number of injured Palestinians arsenic a consequence of nan confrontation.” The IDF said nan confrontation is being investigated.

Increasing violence

There has been growing settler violence successful nan West Bank since Israel’s warfare pinch Hamas started connected Oct. 7, 2023. Organizations, including nan United Nations’ International Court of Justice, mostly see Israel’s colony activity successful nan West Bank to beryllium illegal. Although nan Biden management put sanctions connected settlers accused of unit successful nan West Bank, U.S. President Donald Trump astatine nan opening of his 2nd word rescinded them.

As of Saturday, July 12, location were nary signs of a “breakthrough” successful ceasefire talks successful nan Israel-Hamas war, contempt 2 days of meetings betwixt Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Associated Press reported. At slightest 31 Palestinians were killed connected their measurement to an assistance distribution tract successful nan Gaza Strip connected Saturday, according to nan AP. Israeli airstrikes killed astatine slightest 28 Palestinians successful Gaza arsenic good — among them 4 children, Palestinian infirmary officials and witnesses told nan AP.

The 31 Palestinians were changeable connected their measurement to a distribution tract tally by nan Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by nan United States and Israel. Aid groups person said nan Gaza Humanitarian Foundation “routinely” opens occurrence connected Palestinians seeking aid. The GHF has denied these allegations.