U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, called for an “aggressive investigation” into the death of Palestinian American Saif Musallet, 20, who was fatally beaten by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Huckabee, a known advocate for Israeli settlement expansion, described the incident as a “criminal and terrorist act” in a post on X, marking a rare U.S. public stance on the matter.
Musallet, whose full name is Sayafollah, was attacked on Friday evening in Sinjil, north of Ramallah, while visiting family from Florida.
His relatives reported that medics were unable to reach him for hours, and he died before hospital treatment.
Investigation and Context
Israel’s military has acknowledged the incident and stated it is under review, claiming the violence erupted after Palestinians threw rocks at settlers, causing minor injuries.
Israeli forces reportedly used non-lethal measures to disperse the clash.
This incident adds to a pattern of escalating violence in the West Bank since Israel’s Gaza war began in October 2023, with both settler attacks on Palestinians and Palestinian attacks on Israelis increasing.
Notable past cases include the killings of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, teenager Omar Mohammad Rabea, and Turkish American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi by Israeli actions, alongside the death of Israeli American Elan Ganeles in a Palestinian attack in March 2023.
Broader Implications
The United Nations’ highest court ruled last year that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and its settlements are illegal, urging their prompt dismantlement.
Israel counters this, pointing to security concerns and historical claims tied to the 1967 Middle East war, while Palestinians view the West Bank as part of their envisioned state.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision in January to lift sanctions on settler groups, previously imposed by the Biden administration for violence against Palestinians, has fueled debate over U.S. policy in the region.
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