WASHINGTON – The US State Division mentioned on Friday it was conscious of the reported dying of a US citizen within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution after experiences emerged of Israeli settlers fatally beating a Palestinian American.
Palestinian information company WAFA, citing the native well being ministry, mentioned Saif al-Din Kamel Abdul Karim Musallat, in his 20s, died after he was crushed by Israeli settlers on Friday night in an assault that injured 10 others in a city north of Ramallah.
A second individual was additionally discovered lifeless within the space, a Palestinian medical supply mentioned. There was no rapid remark from the Palestinian Well being Ministry.
Kinfolk of Musallat, who was from Tampa, Florida, had been quoted by the Washington Publish as saying he was crushed to dying by Israeli settlers.
“We’re conscious of experiences of the dying of a US citizen within the West Financial institution,” a State Division spokesperson mentioned, including the division had no additional remark “out of respect for the privateness of the household and family members” of the reported sufferer.
The Israeli army mentioned Israel was probing the incident within the city of Sinjil. It mentioned confrontations between Palestinians and settlers broke out after Palestinians threw rocks at Israelis, evenly injuring them.
The army mentioned forces had been dispatched to the scene and used non-lethal weapons to disperse the crowds.
Settler violence within the West Financial institution has risen because the begin of Israel’s battle towards Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023, in line with rights teams.
Dozens of Israelis have additionally been killed in Palestinian avenue assaults in recent times and the Israeli army has intensified raids throughout the West Financial institution.
Israeli killings of US residents within the West Financial institution in recent times embody these 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 docket mentioned final yr Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, together with the West Financial institution, and settlements there have been unlawful and ought to be withdrawn as quickly as potential.
Israel disputes this, citing historic and biblical ties to the land, which it captured within the 1967 Center East battle. The West Financial institution is among the many territories that Palestinians search for an impartial state. —Reuters