Families demand justice after American deaths in the West Bank

In the West Bank, specifically in Biddu, Sayfollah Musallet, a Palestinian-American, was brutally beaten to death by Israeli settlers two weeks ago, becoming the fourth Palestinian-American casualty since the start of the intensified conflict in Gaza. His death has instigated outrage among his family and a growing number of U.S. politicians who are calling for justice and accountability for these killings. Notably, Musallet's father and several members of Congress have urged that more aggressive investigations be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Palestinian-Americans. The recent fatalities include two American-born teenagers, Tawfic Abdel Jabbar and Mohammad Khdour, who lost their lives earlier in 2024 due to Israeli fire while driving in the West Bank. Another tragic incident involved 14-year-old Amer Rabee, a resident from New Jersey who was shot multiple times by Israeli forces while standing in his family's orchard in April 2025. The pattern of violence directed at Palestinian-Americans has raised serious concerns about accountability, given the repetitive lack of follow-up on such incidents. Although the U.S. Justice Department holds the jurisdiction to look into the deaths of its citizens abroad, it typically does so only with permission from the host country and in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies. Following the deaths of these individuals, U.S. embassy officials have indicated that investigations are ongoing and have called on Israeli authorities to act transparently and effectively regarding their inquiries. However, many families have expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation process, alleging that significant pressure is not placed on the Israeli government to resolve these cases thoroughly. Furthermore, families of the deceased are facing restrictions. For example, Omar Khdour, whose cousin Mohammad was killed, reported being trapped in the West Bank, unable to leave due to Israeli soldiers at checkpoints. He, along with other relatives, has described the frustration of being American yet feeling an absence of support in a place where they have faced violence and restrictions. The emotional toll on the families of the victims is exacerbated by their inability to seek justice and achieve closure, which they feel is compounded by these continuing constraints.