"Palestinians accuse IDF of failing to halt settler violence after the death by beating of an American man"
In the early hours of July 11, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded in the West Bank village of Sinjil, north of Ramallah. Saif Musallet, a 21-year-old American citizen of Palestinian descent, lost his life in a confrontation between Israeli settlers and Palestinians.
Musallet, who was planning to get married, was reportedly trying to protect his family's land from settlers who were attempting to establish an illegal outpost on privately owned Palestinian land. According to his family and Palestinian health officials, settlers surrounded him for over three hours, preventing an ambulance and paramedics from reaching him. He was severely beaten during the attack and died before reaching the hospital.
Hafez Abdel Jabbar, a US citizen, was present on the scene where Musallet was attacked. Abdel Jabbar expressed his frustration with the silence of the world in the face of the ongoing violence and loss of life in the West Bank. He believes there is a double-standard in the US government's response to his son's killing, comparing it to an American-Israeli.
The incident sparked global outrage and highlighted broader concerns about settler violence in the West Bank, which many rights groups and international organizations say often occurs in a climate of impunity. The deaths of Musallet and another man marked the latest escalation in settler attacks in Sinjil.
The funeral processions for the two men were attended by hundreds, with the family describing Musallet as a kind and deeply respected young man connected to his Palestinian heritage. They have called on the U.S. State Department to lead an immediate investigation and hold those responsible accountable. The U.S. State Department acknowledged awareness of the reports but has not issued further comments out of respect for the family’s privacy.
In a separate incident, a CNN crew was attacked by settlers in Sinjil. The settlers ambushed the team after hiding out of sight of the Israeli border police. One settler struck CNN's vehicle with a club or mallet, shattering the rear window. The white car following the CNN team contained at least four settlers who covered their faces and pursued the vehicle.
Israel police have opened an investigation into the attack on the CNN crew. However, as of now, there are no detailed public updates on the progress or outcomes of any official investigation into Musallet's death. Nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military or settlers since October 7, 2023, according to the United Nations.
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/13/palestinian-american-killed-by-israeli-settlers-in-west-bank [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-american-killed-israeli-settlers-west-bank-2025-07-12/ [3] https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-american-palestinian-killed-by-israeli-settlers-in-west-bank-1.9999999 [4] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/world/middleeast/palestinian-american-killed-by-israeli-settlers-west-bank.html
- The incident involving Saif Musallet, a 21-year-old American of Palestinian descent, has brought global attention to ongoing war-and-conflicts and politics in the Middle East, particularly the West Bank, where his life was lost in a confrontation with Israeli settlers.
- Hafez Abdel Jabbar, another American citizen, witnessed Musallet's attack and voiced his frustration over the lack of response from the world, particularly the US government, in addressing the ongoing crime-and-justice issues in the region.
- As international organizations and rights groups continue to call for investigations into settler violence in the West Bank, the deaths of Saif Musallet and another man have added to the general-news stories highlighting the continued escalation of such conflicts.
