Credited from: SCMP
On July 11, 2025, Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old American citizen, was allegedly beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the town of Sinjil, located north of Ramallah. According to reports from the Palestinian Health Ministry, Musallet was killed while he attempted to protect his family's land from encroaching settlers who surrounded him and blocked an ambulance from reaching him for over three hours, leading to his death before he could receive medical assistance, as confirmed by his family and Palestinian officials. The incident is deeply troubling in the context of growing violence in the region, as stated by Al Jazeera, Reuters, and South China Morning Post.
The US State Department confirmed its awareness of the incident but refrained from commenting out of respect for the victim's family. A State Department spokesperson stated that ensuring the safety and security of US citizens overseas is paramount. Advocates and family members of Musallet are demanding a thorough investigation, arguing that the incident reflects a broader pattern of impunity surrounding violence against Palestinians and foreign nationals in the region, as reported by ABC News, CBS News, and Newsweek.
The violence surrounding this incident is not isolated; reports indicate a rise in violent confrontations between Israeli settlers and Palestinians, especially since the escalation of conflict in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. Since that time, over 57,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Israeli military actions, with settler violence contributing to the intensifying crisis. Thus, the US government's response to Musallet’s death has drawn significant scrutiny amid accusations that it has failed to hold Israel accountable for actions against Palestinians and foreign citizens, as emphasized by NPR, India Times, and Al Jazeera.