BIDDU, West Bank (AP) — The ongoing conflict in Gaza has escalated tensions in the West Bank, leading to a tragic increase in violence, particularly against Palestinian-Americans.
Sayfollah Musallet, an American citizen from Tampa, Florida, was brutally beaten to death by Israeli settlers two weeks ago, marking him as the fourth Palestinian-American killed since the recent hostilities began.
Despite the gravity of the situation, no arrests or charges have been made in Musallet’s case, echoing a troubling pattern in the untimely deaths of other Palestinian-Americans.
Musallet’s grieving father, Kamel Musallet, voiced the family’s demand for accountability at his son’s funeral, stating, “We demand justice. We demand the U.S. government do something about it.”
The sense of despair is palpable among Musallet’s family and the families of other Palestinian-Americans who have died, as there is a widespread belief that their identities as hyphenated Americans undermine their cry for justice.
Israel’s actions and law enforcement methods in the West Bank have often made them feel like suspects rather than victims, subjecting them to travel bans and, in some instances, detention and interrogation.
While the current U.S. administration has not committed to conducting its own investigations, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has urged Israel to thoroughly investigate these deaths.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee publicly called for an aggressive investigation into the murder of Musallet, emphasizing that accountability for such acts of violence is essential.
A collective of 29 Democratic senators, led by Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, has also echoed this sentiment, demanding an investigation into the recent killings and drawing attention to a repeated lack of accountability for such incidents.
The Israeli military, police, and Shin Bet domestic security agency have remained silent regarding inquiries about the deaths of Palestinian-Americans.
Among the casualties were American-born teenagers Tawfic Abdel Jabbar and Mohammad Khdour, who lost their lives in early 2024 due to gunfire from Israeli forces while driving in the West Bank.
Moreover, in April 2025, 14-year-old Amer Rabee, a native of New Jersey, was shot multiple times by Israeli forces while standing in his family’s village.
Following each incident, Israeli authorities claimed the shootings were responses to rock-throwing, a narrative that has been consistently contested by the victims’ families and independent witnesses.
Despite Israel’s promises to investigate, no new findings have been disclosed regarding these troubling cases.
The families of the deceased American teens have expressed a desire for independent investigations led by U.S. authorities, harboring doubts regarding the sincerity of any efforts made by Israel to investigate.
According to the Israeli watchdog group Yesh Din, instances of accountability for the killings of Palestinians in the West Bank are exceedingly rare, with investigations often resulting in no indictments.
While the U.S. Justice Department has the jurisdiction to probe into the deaths of its citizens abroad, such investigations are contingent on permissions from the host government, and typically involve collaboration with local law enforcement.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem stated that investigations into the deaths of the four American citizens are ongoing, emphasizing that they are urging Israeli authorities to expedite the inquiries.
Senator Van Hollen expressed concern about the U.S.’s approach towards Israel, criticizing it for the lack of necessary diligence in pursuing accountability for such cases.
He remarked, “It’s unacceptable to allow American citizens to be killed with impunity.”
Israel counters these criticisms by maintaining that it holds both soldiers and settlers accountable under the law.
The recent case involving Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, killed in 2022, serves as a poignant example.
An independent analysis from the U.S. found that Israeli gunfire was “likely responsible” for her death, yet no disciplinary measures were taken following an Israeli military investigation that mirrored these conclusions.
Since the onset of the war in Gaza initiated by events on October 7, 2023, violence in the West Bank has intensified, resulting in the deaths of more than 950 Palestinians according to U.N. reports.
Among these victims are not just militants, but also non-combatants, caught in the crossfire of increasing hostilities.
Families of victims like Khdour, Rabee, and Abdel Jabbar report facing significant obstacles rather than progress toward justice.
Mohammad Khdour, shot in April 2024, was entangled in a bureaucracy of inquiries; his family stated that U.S. investigators visited but expressed frustration over the perceived inadequacy of the investigations.
Witness Malek Mansour, Khdour’s cousin, recounted being interrogated by both U.S. and Israeli investigators, reinforcing his testimony that shots originated from Israeli territory, yet felt little was done to find justice for his cousin.
Hanan Khdour, Mohammad’s mother, mournfully reflected, “The matter ended like many of those who were martyred.”
Months after her son’s death, the family faced an Israeli raid, leading to the arrest of Khdour’s brother, Omar, who also holds American citizenship.
Videos showcased Omar being led away by Israeli troops, prompting claims he was coerced during prolonged interrogations.
The travel restrictions imposed on Omar have left him stranded within the West Bank, creating a sense of helplessness echoed by many families of victims.
Hafeth Abdel Jabbar, father of Tawfic, reported being barred from leaving the West Bank for seven months, with similar restrictions imposed on other American families who lost loved ones.
The father of Amer Rabee highlighted his own predicament, revealing that his movements are constricted due to a travel ban placed by Israeli authorities.
As they navigate this perilous landscape, families of deceased Palestinian-Americans grapple with a stark reality; their American citizenship offers little reprieve or justice in a land where violence against Palestinians often goes unchecked.
Amer Rabee poignantly expressed this frustration: “We are all American citizens. But here, for us, being American means nothing.”
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