A 20-year-old American from Florida was allegedly beaten to death by Israeli settlers while visiting family in the West Bank, according to Palestinian health officials and his relatives.Sayfollah “Saif” Musallet was killed in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. A second man was also reported killed by gunfire in the same incident, news agency ABC reported. Musallet’s family said he was trying to defend their land from Israeli settlers who surrounded him for more than three hours and blocked an ambulance from reaching him. He died before he could be taken to hospital.
He is the fifth American reported killed in the West Bank since the Israel–Hamas war began on October 7, 2023. Musallet was born in Florida, lived in Tampa and owned a business there. He had traveled to the West Bank on June 4, his family said. In a statement, his family described him as “a kind, hard-working, and deeply respected young man” known for his generosity, ambition and strong connection to his Palestinian heritage.“This is an unimaginable nightmare and injustice that no family should ever have to face,” the family said in a statement demanding justice for Musallet’s death. Musallet’s family has demanded the US State Department to lead a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable for their crimes. A US State Department spokesperson confirmed the death of a US citizen in the West Bank on July 11, but declined further comment out of respect for the family’s privacy.“The US Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas,” the spokesperson said.
