Latest news with #Musallat
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
US aware of report American killed in West Bank settler attack
The US State Department said on Friday it was aware of the reported death of a US citizen in the Israeli-occupied West Bank after reports emerged of Israeli settlers fatally beating a Palestinian American. Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing the local health ministry, said Saif Al Din Kamel Abdul Karim Musallat, in his 20s, died after he was beaten by Israeli settlers on Friday evening in an attack that injured 10 others in a town north of Ramallah. A second person was also found dead in the area, a Palestinian medical source said. There was no immediate comment from the Palestinian Health Ministry. Relatives of Musallat, who was from Tampa, Florida, were quoted by the Washington Post as saying he was beaten to death by Israeli settlers. "We are aware of reports of the death of a US citizen in the West Bank," a State Department spokesperson said, adding the department had no further comment "out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones" of the reported victim. The Israeli military said Israel was probing the incident in the town of Sinjil. It said confrontations between Palestinians and settlers broke out after Palestinians threw rocks at Israelis, lightly injuring them. The military said forces were dispatched to the scene and used non-lethal weapons to disperse the crowds. Settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023, according to rights groups. Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank. Israeli killings of US citizens in the West Bank in recent years include those of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, Palestinian American teenager Omar Mohammad Rabea and Turkish American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi. The United Nations' highest court said last year Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, and settlements there were illegal and should be withdrawn as soon as possible. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the land, which it captured in the 1967 Middle East war. The West Bank is among the territories that Palestinians seek for an independent state. Reuters
Leaders
3 days ago
- Politics
- Leaders
US Aware of American Citizen Beaten to Death by Israeli Settlers
The US State Department unveiled that it was aware of the US citizen who was killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank after being beaten by Israeli settlers, according to Al Arabiya. 'We are aware of reports of the death of a US citizen in the West Bank,' a State Department spokesperson said. The Palestinian Health Ministry, noted that Saif al-Din Kamel Abdul Karim Musallat, aged in his 20s, died after he was beaten by Israeli settlers on Friday evening. The ministry also said that other people were injured during an attack in a town north of Ramallah. Musallat's relatives mentioned that Israeli settlers had beaten Saif al-Din to death, according to The Washington Post. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said Israel was investigating the incident in the town of Sinjil. It also said that rocks were hurled at Israelis near Sinjil and that 'a violent confrontation developed in the area.' Escalating Violence in West Bank Approximately 1 million Israeli settlers live in illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in violation of international law. Israel has recently detained numerous pro-Palestine activists with foreign nationalities north of Jericho in the occupied West Bank amid settlers' attacks, according to Arab News. In May, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel planned to build a 'Jewish Israeli state' in the occupied West Bank, according to Al-Arabiya. Katz's remarks followed Israel's announcement of the creation of 22 new settlements in the West Bank. In this context, fifteen Israeli Cabinet Ministers from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party have recently pushed him to immediately annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The lawmakers have signed a petition requesting the administration 'to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (West Bank) before the end of the Knesset summer session,' which ends on July 27. They also implied that the current moment is appropriate for the annexation thanks to strong US-Israeli relations and the recent military gains. Related Topics: Saudi Arabia Condemns Israeli Settlers' Violence against Palestinians Dozens of Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque for the second day US Sanctions UN Expert for Criticizing Israel's War in Gaza Short link : Post Views: 65
