Ambassador Huckabee’s calls for accountability highlight ongoing tensions in Israeli-Palestinian relations, particularly surrounding the treatment of Palestinian civilians and the actions of Israeli settlers.
US Ambassador Presses Israel for Thorough Inquiry into Palestinian-American's Death
US Ambassador Presses Israel for Thorough Inquiry into Palestinian-American's Death
US Ambassador Mike Huckabee demands an aggressive investigation into the West Bank killing of Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old Palestinian-American citizen.
US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has urged Israeli authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the death of Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old Palestinian-American, who was reportedly killed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank town of Sinjil on Friday evening. Musallet, who held dual citizenship in the US and had traveled from Florida to visit relatives, was beaten to death, as stated by the Palestinian health ministry.
This incident, initially met with a muted response from the US government, prompted Huckabee to describe Musallet’s death as a profoundly serious “criminal and terrorist act.” In a message posted on social media platform X, Huckabee emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “Saif was just 20 years old.”
The Israeli military has announced an investigation, asserting that the confrontation escalated after alleged "terrorists" threw stones at Israeli civilians. Musallet was reportedly trying to protect his family’s land from encroaching settlers when the incident escalated. Alongside him was Mohammed al-Shalabi, a 23-year-old who suffered fatal gunshot wounds during the violence; both men were attempting to defend their community against settler aggression.
Witnesses claim that Israeli settlers obstructed an ambulance attempting to reach Musallet, causing delays that ultimately resulted in the young man’s death prior to arrival at a hospital. The Musallet family has urged the US State Department to initiate its own investigation into the circumstances surrounding their relative's death.
Huckabee, known for his support of Israeli settlements—which are considered illegal under international law—has attracted criticism from American Democratic lawmakers for his stance on various issues relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has been a proponent of a “greater Israel” concept and often refers to the West Bank using biblical terminology. Just last month, he condemned allied governments, including the UK and Australia, for imposing sanctions on Israeli ministers accused of inciting violence against Palestinians.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, the call for an aggressive inquiry into Musallet’s death underscores the complexities of US involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the significant implications of settler violence on community relations.
