American Muslim Beaten to Death by Israeli Settlers in the West Bank

In a brutal act of violence, a 20-year-old Palestinian American, Sayfollah “Saif” Musallet, was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. The attack occurred in the town of Sinjil, northeast of Ramallah, where Saif was visiting family and helping to defend agricultural land from ongoing settler encroachment.

According to eyewitnesses and multiple rights groups, Musallet and his companion, 23-year-old Mohammad al Shalabi, were confronted by a group of armed settlers (some dressed in military style clothing) who beat Saif to death and fatally shot al-Shalabi. 

Paramedics were prevented from reaching the scene for nearly three hours as settlers reportedly blocked ambulances, smashed windshields, and physically barred access to the wounded men.

Saif’s younger brother eventually carried him to the ambulance once the settlers dispersed, but it was too late. Saif was pronounced dead before reaching the hospital. An autopsy confirmed he died from severe head trauma and multiple internal injuries from the beating.

The U.S. State Department confirmed it was aware of Saif’s death and expressed readiness to offer consular services. However, the Musallet family says they have not received any meaningful follow-up and are urging a full, American-led investigation.

“We demand the US State Department lead an immediate investigation and hold the Israeli settlers who killed Saif accountable for their crimes,” the family stated.

Rights advocates and witnesses present at the scene, including anti-occupation activist Jonathan Pollak, highlighted the apparent complicity of Israeli soldiers during the incident. While soldiers reportedly separated some people from the melee, they did not intervene to stop the assault or detain the attackers. No arrests were made at the scene.

A USA-based, Muslim organization has criticized the current administration’s lack of accountability: “If President Trump will not even put America first when Israel murders American citizens, then this is truly an Israel First administration.”

The Israeli military claims that the violence began when Palestinians allegedly hurled rocks at Israeli settlers, leading to a “violent confrontation.” 

The military acknowledged that it is "aware of reports regarding a Palestinian civilian killed" and that the incident is under review by Israeli police and the Shin Bet security service. 

However, history suggests that accountability may be unlikely; more than 93% of settler violence investigations from 2005 to 2023 ended without indictment, and only 3% led to convictions, according to the Israeli human rights group Yesh Din.

Since October 2023, settler violence has intensified amid the Gaza war, with at least 961 Palestinians killed in the West Bank, 13 of them by settlers, according to the UN. In that same period, 136 settler attacks resulted in casualties or property damage in May alone.

Saif Musallet’s killing is not an isolated case. Other American citizens killed by Israeli forces or settlers include 14-year-old Amer Rabee (April 2024), 17-year-olds Mohammad Ahmed Khdour and Tawfic Hafeth Abdel Jabbar (February and January 2024), and 26-year-old Turkish American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi (September 2024). None of these deaths has resulted in criminal charges.

The Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) denounced the systemic impunity,  “The US government has a legal and moral obligation to stop Israel’s racist violence against Palestinians. Instead, it’s still backing and funding it.”

The Muslim American community, alongside international human rights organizations, continues to call for justice, not just for Saif Musallet, but for every Palestinian and American who has suffered under this decades-long occupation.