The Bloody Truth in the West Bank

20-year-old U.S. citizen Saif Musallet dreamed of celebrating his 21st birthday with his family in Palestine. But he never made it to that day — according to Palestinian health officials, he was brutally beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the town of Sinjil in the West Bank.

Musallet, an ordinary young man who ran an ice cream shop in Tampa with his father, was attacked along with other Palestinians who had gone to visit their land after Friday prayers. According to reports, the Israeli settlers targeted them with stones, sticks, and firearms. Musallet was pinned to the ground by a group of settlers and beaten mercilessly with sticks.

His brother arrived at the scene and immediately called for help. However, emergency services could not reach him for over two hours — settlers were active in the area, and the Israeli army used tear gas to disperse Palestinians and prevented ambulances from passing.

"He was breathing. If the ambulance had arrived then, he could have been saved," said eyewitness Hafez Abdel Jabbar, a Palestinian-American.

Saif Musallet's father, Kamel Musallet, blames not only the settlers but also the Israeli army and the U.S. government for his son’s death.

"They didn’t let the ambulance through. Settlers do as they please without any restrictions. The Israeli army turned a blind eye," said Kamel Musallet. "And the U.S. government is silent. If my son had been an Israeli-American, the response would have been completely different."

According to him, the U.S. government only offered condolences through the consulate. Meanwhile, the Trump administration reversed sanctions previously imposed on Israeli settlers.

Kamel Musallet is dissatisfied with the lack of attention to the fate of Palestinian-Americans.

"We want equality. A U.S. citizen is a citizen, whether Palestinian or Israeli — there should be no difference," he said.

Musallet’s death not only marks a family tragedy but also highlights the worsening situation in the West Bank. According to the UN, nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank since October 7, 2023.

For witness Abdel Jabbar, these attacks have become part of life. His son Tawfiq was also killed by Israeli settlers in January 2024.

"You cry out to the world for help, but the world remains silent. Mothers are burying sons they raised for 20 years. Under the sky, into the ground — and still silence," he said.

The Musallet family is demanding an independent investigation from the United States. As the country whose citizen was killed, Washington is expected to provide a clear and firm response. Meanwhile, the international community is being urged to take strong measures against Israeli policies and settler violence in the West Bank. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!