Trump Administration Calls for Investigation Into American’s Death in the West Bank Amid Terrorism Allegations

The U.S. Ambassador to Israel has termed the killing of an American citizen by Israeli settlers a “criminal and terrorist act.” In response, he has called for an aggressive investigation into the incident. Sayfollah Musallet, known as Saif, was allegedly beaten to death while visiting family in the occupied West Bank. His family indicated that a group of settlers prevented an ambulance from reaching him for about three hours, leading to his death before he could be treated at a hospital.

Mike Huckabee, the American Ambassador, shared on social media that he had urged Israeli authorities to thoroughly investigate the murder of Musallet. He emphasized the need for accountability, insisting that such violent acts cannot go unpunished. This came just two days after friends and family gathered for Musallet’s funeral, where his father expressed a strong desire for justice and called on the U.S. government to take action. In addition to Musallet, a 23-year-old man named Mohammed al-Shalabi was also reported killed in the same incident.

The circumstances surrounding their deaths, however, remain unclear. The Israeli Defense Forces acknowledged awareness of the reports concerning the Palestinian deaths and stated they were being investigated by relevant authorities. Both the Israeli Police and IDF Military Police have launched a joint inquiry into the violence. Settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has seen a troubling uptick, with a recent United Nations report highlighting a climate of impunity for such acts.

Over 960 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the recent conflict, a significant rise compared to previous years. Legal action against settlers for violence is rare, with over 93% of investigations closed without indictments, pointing to a concerning lack of accountability.