US ambassador asks Israel to investigate ‘aggressively' US citizen's death in West Bank
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee (left) has called on Israel to 'aggressively' investigate the death of US citizen Sayafollah Musallet, who was beaten and died in the West Bank.
TEL AVIV - US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on July 15 he has asked Israel to 'aggressively' investigate the death of an American citizen who was beaten to death in the West Bank.
'There must be accountability for this criminal and terrorist act. Saif was just 20 yrs old,' Mr Huckabee said in a post on X.
The Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately provide comment.
Israel's military previously said Israel was investigating the incident.
US citizen Sayafollah Musallet, 20, also known as Saif, was severely beaten in the incident on evening of July 11 in Sinjil, north of Ramallah, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
His family, from Tampa, Florida, said in a statement that medics tried to reach him for three hours before his brother managed to carry him to an ambulance, but that he died before reaching the hospital.
'We must honour his memory by speaking out against violence and working towards a future of peace and dignity,' US Representative Kathy Castor, who represents Tampa, said in a post on X.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Las Vegas Sands' new development part of S'pore's broader, more ambitious transformation: PM Wong
Singapore Economic headwinds do not dampen outlook for new Marina Bay development: Las Vegas Sands president
Business MAS records net profit of $19.7 billion, fuelled by investment gains
Singapore Man charged with attempted murder of woman at Kallang Wave Mall
Singapore CDL's long-time director Philip Yeo to depart after boardroom feud
Singapore Ex-cleaner jailed over safety lapses linked to guard's death near 1-Altitude rooftop bar
Life The Violinist, Singapore's first animated historical film, set for August 2026 release
Singapore 'Nobody deserves to be alone': Why Mummy and Acha have fostered over 20 children in the past 22 years
'The Administration must work with our international partners to ensure the protection of Americans abroad.'
Some members of the US House of Representatives have condemned the killing of Mr Musallet, and others have called on the US State Department to investigate the incident.
The department did not immediately respond to those calls.
Settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023, according to rights groups. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Russian strike on Ukraine's Dobropillia ravages busy town square
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Russia dropped a 500kg bomb on the Ukrainian town of Dobropillia, which is just 20km from the front line. KYIV - Russian airstrike on a central square in the front-line town of Dobropillia on July 16 killed one person and wounded more than 20, with more casualties feared trapped under the debris, authorities said. Russia fired hundreds of drones, artillery and a ballistic missile at Ukraine between late on July 15 and early on July 16, defying calls by US President Donald Trump to reach a peace deal. Mr Trump on July 14 threatened to impose severe sanctions against Moscow unless it reached a peace settlement within 50 days to end its three-year war on Ukraine. According to regional authorities, Russia dropped a 500kg bomb on Dobropillia, which is just 20km from the front line. 'Updated information on the shelling of person killed and 21 wounded,' Mr Vadym Filashkin, of the Donestk regional administration, said on social media. He added that the rush hour attack hit 54 shops and 13 buildings around the crowded square. 'It is likely that people are still trapped under the rubble, and the search for survivors continues.' Ukrainian and Russian officials last met for direct peace talks more than a month ago, and no further meetings have been scheduled despite the Kremlin saying it is open to contacts. Russia fired at least 400 drones at Ukraine between late on July 15 and early on July 16, as well as an Iskander ballistic missile launched from Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula, the Ukrainian air force said. The attacks killed one and left dozens injured on top of the Dobropillia toll, according to Ukrainian authorities. Russia has stepped up its summer campaign against Ukraine in recent weeks as Washington-mediated ceasefire talks stall. Its army has pushed ahead on the battlefield, while pounding Ukraine with drone, artillery and missile strikes. Mr Trump said July 14 he had struck a deal with Nato to supply more US air defence systems and weapons to Ukraine, citing his frustration with Russia's refusal to accept a ceasefire. AFP
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Pogacar crashes as anti-Israel protester disrupt Tour stage finale
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Cycling - Tour de France - Stage 11 - Toulouse to Toulouse - Toulouse, France - July 16, 2025 UAE Team Emirates XRG's Tadej Pogacar in action as spectators cheer on during stage 11 REUTERS/Benoit Tessier TOULOUSE, France - Defending champion Tadej Pogacar suffered a crash on the 11th stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday, moments before a protester disrupted the sprint finish where Norway's Jonas Abrahamsen claimed his first Tour stage victory. Slovenian Pogacar went down about five kilometres from the line after touching wheels with another rider but quickly remounted and the peloton eased off to allow the overall race favourite to rejoin. Pogacar thanked the group after crossing the finish line apparently unhurt and without losing time. "I'm quite okay, a bit beaten up, but we've been through worse days, so it's been a hectic day actually from start to finish," the UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader told reporters. "In the end, I had a little bit of a crash, and thanks to the peloton in front, they actually waited, obviously the race was more or less over back there, but still, they could have taken time. "Really big respect to everybody in front. Thanks for your support, guys." Ireland's Ben Healy, who retained the overall leader's yellow jersey, explained that he had a brief chat with two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard, seen as Pogacar's main rival for the title, and both agreed they should wait for the Slovenian. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Singapore 2 weeks' jail for man caught smuggling over 1,800 vapes and pods into Singapore Singapore Jail for man who fatally hit his daughter, 2, while driving van without licence Sport 'Like being in a washing machine with 40 deg C water': Open water swimmers brave challenging conditions Singapore Primary 1 registration: 38 primary schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2A Singapore ComfortDelGro to introduce new taxi cancellation, waiting fee policy Business Cathay Cineplexes gets fresh demands to pay up $3.3m debt for Century Square, Causeway Point outlets Singapore Countering misinformation requires both laws and access to trusted news sources: Josephine Teo As the stage reached its dramatic conclusion, a protester wearing a T-shirt reading "Israel out of the Tour" and waving a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf ran onto the final straight, just 50 metres from the line. He was swiftly tackled by a security officer as Abrahamsen edged out Swiss national champion Mauro Schmid in a two-man sprint for the win. "I broke my collarbone four weeks ago. I cried at the hospital because I thought I wouldn't make it to the Tour de France," Abrahamsen said. "I hoped, and every day I did everything I could to come back. To stand here in the Tour de France and have won a stage is amazing." Tour organisers declined to comment on the incident while the Israel-Premier Tech team — which has no Israeli riders in this year's race — told Reuters they would issue a statement later on Wednesday. The protest came amid rising tensions over Israel's military operations in Gaza, where more than 58,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, according to Gaza health authorities. Almost 1,650 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed as a result of the conflict, including 1,200 killed in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, by Israeli tallies. Sources with a direct knowledge of the matter have told Reuters that other protests are planned on the Tour route. The day began at a blistering pace, with a five-man breakaway quickly forming ahead of a second group featuring classics specialists Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. The peloton eventually backed off, allowing the front of the race to shape the outcome. On the punishing final climb — an 800-metre ascent averaging 12.4% — Abrahamsen and Schmid emerged at the front. Van der Poel launched a fierce pursuit but fell short. The focus now shifts to Thursday's stage 12, which brings the Tour's first high-mountain showdown with a summit finish on the legendary Hautacam and all eyes will be on Pogacar the day after his crash. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
ICC judges reject Israel's request to withdraw Netanyahu arrest warrant
THE HAGUE - Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday rejected Israel's request to withdraw arrest warrants against its prime minister and former defence minister while the ICC reviews Israeli challenges to its jurisdiction over the conduct of the Gaza war. In a decision published on the ICC website, judges also rejected an Israeli request to suspend the wider ICC investigation into alleged atrocity crimes in the Palestinian Territories. The ICC issued arrest warrants on November 21 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, Yoav Gallant, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. The court said in February that judges had withdrawn the arrest warrant for al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, following credible reports of his death. Israel rejects the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes in Gaza, where it has waged a military campaign it says is aimed at eliminating Hamas since the deadly attack on Israel by the militant Palestinian group on October 7, 2023. It is contesting the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. Israel has argued that an appeals chamber decision in April ordering the pre-trial chamber to review Israel's objections to the court's jurisdiction means there is no valid jurisdictional basis for the warrants. The judges rejected that reasoning as incorrect, saying on Wednesday that Israel's jurisdictional challenge to the arrest warrants was still pending and the warrants would remain in place until the court ruled on that issue specifically. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 600 Telegram groups in Singapore selling, advertising vapes removed by HSA Singapore 2 weeks' jail for man caught smuggling over 1,800 vapes and pods into Singapore Singapore Jail for man who fatally hit his daughter, 2, while driving van without licence Sport 'Like being in a washing machine with 40 deg C water': Open water swimmers brave challenging conditions Singapore Primary 1 registration: 38 primary schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2A Singapore ComfortDelGro to introduce new taxi cancellation, waiting fee policy Business Cathay Cineplexes gets fresh demands to pay up $3.3m debt for Century Square, Causeway Point outlets Singapore Countering misinformation requires both laws and access to trusted news sources: Josephine Teo There is no timeline for a ruling on jurisdiction in this case. In June the United States imposed sanctions on four judges at the ICC, an unprecedented retaliation over the war tribunal's issuance of an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. Two of the sanctioned judges are on the panel that ruled to reject Israel's request to withdraw the warrants. REUTERS
