U.S. Ambassadorinsists on Israel investigating American's decease
In the West Bank village of Sinjil, the investigation into the death of Saif al-Din Abdul Karim Musalat, a Palestinian American, is ongoing. The 20-year-old was beaten to death by Israeli settlers on Friday, according to Musalat's family and local reports.
Musalat, who was born and raised in Florida and ran an ice cream parlor in Tampa, was visiting family in Sinjil at the time of the incident. His family claims he was protecting his family's land from settlers who were attempting to steal it.
Israeli officials have stated that the incident occurred during a violent confrontation, but they are proceeding without a formal complaint, autopsy, or access to the body. The family has called for the U.S. State Department to lead an investigation, alleging that Israeli settlers were responsible for his death and claiming that attackers blocked emergency responders.
The death of Musalat has heightened tensions in the region and renewed scrutiny of Israeli actions in the West Bank. The local and international community has expressed concern over the escalation of violence involving Israeli settlers and Palestinian civilians. The incident has also been part of broader discussions about accountability and the need for international oversight in such cases.
There is no specific information in the search results regarding responses from U.S. officials or politicians directly related to Musalat's death. However, the Musalat family has urged the U.S. administration to intervene and investigate the incident.
Ambassador Mike Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas and evangelical Christian, has spoken out about Musalat's death. Huckabee, who has previously rejected the idea of an occupation and voiced support for settlements, has stated that Israel has "title deed to Judea and Samaria," a biblical term for the West Bank.
During his first term, Trump walked away from the international consensus that settlements on occupied land were illegal. Hakeem Jeffries, a top House lawmaker from the Democratic Party, has demanded action from Israel over Musalat's death and called for a tougher response from Trump. Jeffries stated that the Trump administration cannot continue to turn a blind eye to what is happening in the West Bank if it is truly committed to finding a just and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinian people.
The article is copyrighted by AFP in 2025.
- The ongoing investigation into Musalat's death has been a contributing factor to the renewed scrutiny of Israeli actions in the West Bank, and it has also been a part of broader discussions about accountability and the need for international oversight in such cases.
- Following Musalat's death, Hakeem Jeffries, a top House lawmaker from the Democratic Party, has demanded action from Israel and stressed the need for a tougher response from the Trump administration, arguing that the administration cannot continue to turn a blind eye to what is happening in the West Bank if it is truly committed to finding a just and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinian people.
