The United States has called on Israel to investigate the killing of 20-year-old American citizen Sayfollah Musallet, who was beaten to death by settlers in the occupied West Bank. The incident has sparked criticism from Washington and Palestinian groups.
US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said he asked Israel to “aggressively investigate” the killing, calling it a “terrorist act”. However, his statement stopped short of backing demands for an independent US probe into the matter.
Critics say Israel rarely holds its settlers or soldiers accountable for abuses against Palestinians. Musallet was the ninth US citizen to be killed by Israel since 2022, with none of the previous cases leading to criminal charges.
Palestinian groups and Western countries have imposed sanctions on far-right Israeli officials and groups over settler violence. The US provides Israel with billions of dollars in military aid annually, but has been criticized for its handling of the issue.
Some lawmakers, including top Democrats Hakeem Jeffries and Maxwell Frost, have called for accountability for Musallet’s killing. Florida’s Republican politicians have largely remained silent on the matter, with state senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody not commenting on Al Jazeera’s request for comment.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/15/us-asks-israel-to-probe-terrorist-killing-of-american-citizen-by-settlers