Palestinian-American man beaten to death by Israeli settlers, authorities say

His family says mob surrounded him for over three hours and blocked paramedics

Sayfollah Musallat, 20, was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in Sinjil, north-east of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, said authorities. Photo: X

A Palestinian-American man was beaten to death and a second man was shot dead during a settler attack on a village in the occupied West Bank on Friday, Palestinian authorities said.

Sayfollah Musallat, 20, was “severely beaten” by Israeli settlers in the town of Sinjil, north-east of Ramallah, said the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Mr Musallat's family said medics were delayed for hours by a mob, before his brother managed to carry him to an ambulance. However, Mr Musallat − who was known as Saif − died before reaching hospital.

“We are devastated that our beloved Saif Musallat was brutally beaten to death in our family's land by illegal Israeli settlers who were attempting to steal it,” his family said in a message.

They said that Israeli settlers surrounded Mr Musallat for more than three hours as paramedics attempted to reach him. The mob of settlers blocked the ambulance and paramedics from providing lifesaving aid.

“After the mob of Israeli settlers were cleared, hours later, Saif's younger brother rushed to carry him to the ambulance,” they said, adding that he died before reaching the hospital.

Mr Musallat was born in Florida and was a beloved member of his community, his family said. “This is an unimaginable nightmare and an injustice that no family should ever have to face.”

They demanded that the US State Department “lead an immediate investigation and hold the Israeli settlers who killed Saif accountable for their crimes”.

“Saif is not just a number,” they said.

The ruling Fatah party has condemned the attack, which it described as a “policy of the occupying state's practice of systemic terrorism”.

The US State Department did not comment directly on the killing of Mr Musallat.

“We are aware of reports of the death of a US citizen in the West Bank,” a department representative told The National. “Out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones during this difficult time, we have no further comment.”

Annas Abu El Ezz, spokesman for the Palestinian Health Ministry, told AFP that Mr Musallat “died after being severely beaten all over his body by settlers in the town of Sinjil”, about 15km north-east of Ramallah.

The Florida Palestine Network mourned his loss.

“The young man was injured and remained so for four hours. The army prevented us from reaching him and did not allow us to take him away,” Abdul Samad Abdul Aziz, from the nearby village of Al Mazraa Al Sharqiya, told AFP.

“When we finally managed to reach him, he was taking his last breath.”

The Israeli military said clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israelis after rocks were thrown at Israeli civilians near Sinjil, lightly injuring two.

It said the ensuing “violent confrontation … included vandalism of Palestinian property, arson, physical clashes, and rock hurling”.

“We are aware of reports regarding a Palestinian civilian killed and a number of injured Palestinians as a result of the confrontation,” the military said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the second victim as Hussein Al Shalabi, 23, and said he was shot in the chest. The Wafa news agency said 10 other people were wounded in the attack.

Violence between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank has risen in recent years, with settler attacks becoming more frequent since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.

Israeli killings of US citizens in the West Bank include those of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, Palestinian-American teenager Omar Mohammad Rabea and Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi.