US Citizen Killed in West Bank Settler Attack, Family Demands Investigation
A US-Palestinian man was fatally attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, prompting his family to call for a full investigation by the US State Department. The incident underscores escalating violence in the region and raises questions about the safety of American citizens in the territory.
Rising Tensions in the West Bank
The victim, identified as Saif al-Din Kamil Abdul Karim Musalat, 20, was beaten to death on Thursday in Sinjil, a village north of Ramallah, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Musalat, a Florida resident, had traveled to the West Bank last month to visit family. A second Palestinian man, Mohammed Rizq Hussein al-Shalabi, 23, also died during the attack after being shot and allegedly “left to bleed for hours,” the health ministry reported.
The family, in a statement released by lawyer Diana Halum, described Musalat as a “kind, hard-working and deeply respected” man with strong ties to his Palestinian heritage. They stated he was attempting to protect his family’s land when he was attacked by settlers allegedly trying to seize it.
According to the family, Israeli settlers obstructed medical personnel from reaching Musalat, contributing to his death before he could receive hospital treatment. “This was an unimaginable nightmare and injustice that no family should ever have to face,” the statement read. They are demanding accountability for the perpetrators.
Conflicting Accounts of the Incident
Israel’s military offered a differing account, claiming that violence erupted after Palestinians threw rocks at a group of Israeli settlers. This incident is the latest in a series of clashes between settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank.
The US State Department confirmed the death of an American citizen and expressed condolences to the family. However, a spokesperson indicated that questions regarding any investigation should be directed to the Israeli government, stating the department’s “no higher priority” is the safety of US citizens overseas.
Escalation of Settler Violence and Impunity
Rights groups have documented a significant increase in violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. The United Nations has voiced concern that these attacks are occurring in a climate of “impunity.”
Last week, journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP) witnessed confrontations between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in Sinjil, where a protest against settler attacks on farmland was planned. Israeli authorities have recently erected a substantial fence around parts of Sinjil, cutting off access to Road 60, a major north-south route through the West Bank.
Worsening Violence Since October 2023
The surge in violence coincides with the ongoing conflict triggered by the October 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent war in Gaza. Since then, Palestinian health ministry figures indicate that at least 955 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or settlers in the occupied West Bank. Israeli officials report that 36 Israelis, including soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during military operations.
The family of Saif al-Din Kamil Abdul Karim Musalat is resolute in their pursuit of justice, demanding a thorough and impartial investigation into his death and accountability for those responsible.
