A 20-year-old American from Florida was allegedly beaten to death by Israeli settlers while visiting his family in the West Bank, according to Palestinian health officials and his family.
Sayfollah “Saif” Musallet was killed in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in the West Bank.
The IDF said rocks were thrown at Israeli settlers adjacent to Sinjil, causing light injuries.
Musallet’s family is demanding “the U.S. State Department lead an immediate investigation and hold the Israeli settlers who killed Musallet accountable for their crimes.”
Four other Americans have been killed in the West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023.
Palestinian health officials and the family of a 20-year-old American claim that Israeli settlers killed him by beating him while he was visiting his relatives in the West Bank.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in the West Bank, Sayfollah “Saif” Musallet was killed in the town of Sinjil, near Ramallah.
The health ministry also reported that a second man was shot dead during the attacks.
Musallet’s family claims that he was attempting to defend their land from Israeli settlers who surrounded him for more than three hours, preventing the ambulance from getting to him. They claimed that he passed away before arriving at the hospital.
Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas started in October, he is the fifth American to be killed in the West Bank. 7, 2023, when a terrorist attack on southern Israel led by Hamas claimed 1,200 Israeli lives.
Musallet’s family says he was born in Florida, lived in Tampa, and operated a business there. They claimed that on June 4, he had visited the West Bank.
“He was a young man who was kind, diligent, and well-respected as he worked to realize his goals. According to a statement from his family, Saif established a prosperous business in Tampa and was well-known for his ambition, generosity, and ties to his Palestinian roots.
“The ISA and Israel Police are looking into reports that a Palestinian civilian was killed and several Palestinians were injured in the confrontation,” the Israel Defense Forces said. “.”.
According to the IDF, there were minor injuries when rocks were thrown at Israeli settlers near Sinjil.
The IDF reported that “a violent confrontation between Palestinians and Israeli civilians developed in the area shortly after, which included physical clashes, rock hurling, arson, and vandalism of Palestinian property.”.
Musallet’s relatives are requesting “the U. S. The State Department should launch an investigation right away and hold the Israeli settlers responsible for Musallet’s death. “.
In a statement, the family said, “This is an unimaginable nightmare and injustice that no family should ever have to face.”.
“Justice is what we demand,” the family said. “.”.
His family said, “We are devastated that our beloved Sayfollah Musallet (nicknamed Saif) was brutally beaten to death by Israeli settlers while he was protecting his family’s land from settlers who were attempting to steal it.”.
According to a State Department spokesperson, they were able to verify a U.S. A. citizen in the West Bank on July 11, but the department declined to comment further “out of respect for the privacy of the family and loved ones” concerning the victim who was reported.
“The U. S. . The safety and security of the United States is the top priority for the Department of State. A. foreign nationals,” the department stated.
Since October, four additional Americans have been killed in the West Bank. March 7, 2023. On January 17, 17-year-old Tawfic Abdel Jabbar was killed. 19, 2024; on February 19, 17-year-old Mohammad Alkhdour was killed. 10, 2024; on September 10, 26-year-old Aysenur Eygi was killed. 6, 2024; on April 6, 2025, 14-year-old Amer Rabee was killed.
