Egypt Daily News – A 20-year-old American citizen from Florida was killed in the West Bank in what his family describes as a fatal beating by Israeli settlers. The incident took place in the Palestinian town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry and the victim’s relatives.
Sayfollah “Saif” Musallet died while attempting to defend his family’s land from encroaching Israeli settlers, his family said. According to their account, Musallet was surrounded for more than three hours by settlers who blocked emergency services from reaching him. He succumbed to his injuries before he could be taken to a hospital.
A second man was reportedly shot dead during the same confrontation, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
Musallet, who was born in Florida and lived in Tampa, had traveled to the West Bank on June 4. Family members said he owned a business in Tampa and was well known for his work ethic, generosity, and strong ties to his Palestinian heritage.
“He was a kind, hard-working, and deeply respected young man, working to build his dreams. Saif built a successful business in Tampa and was known for his generosity, ambition, and connection to his Palestinian heritage,” the family said in a statement.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed they are aware of reports of a Palestinian civilian killed and several others injured in the area. According to an IDF statement, the confrontation began after rocks were thrown at Israeli settlers near Sinjil, resulting in light injuries. The IDF said this led to a violent exchange involving Palestinians and Israeli civilians, during which property damage, arson, and physical clashes were reported.
Musallet is the fifth American citizen reported killed in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023. That conflict was sparked by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that left approximately 1,200 people dead.
His family is calling on the U.S. government to intervene. “We demand that the U.S. State Department lead an immediate investigation and hold the Israeli settlers who killed Musallet accountable for their crimes,” the family said. “This is an unimaginable nightmare and injustice that no family should ever have to face.”
ABC News has reached out to the State Department for comment. A spokesperson told Reuters the department was aware of the incident but had no further comment “out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones.”
The four other American citizens killed in the West Bank since October 7 include Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, 17, killed on January 19, 2024; Mohammad Alkhdour, 17, on February 10, 2024; Aysenur Eygi, 26, on September 6, 2024; and Amer Rabee, 14, on April 6, 2025.
