Dual US Citizen Among Two Palestinians Killed in West Bank Settler Attack
Published 12 July 2025
Highlights
- Two Palestinians, including a 20-year-old dual US citizen, were killed in an attack by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
- Sayfollah Musallet, a Palestinian-American, was reportedly beaten to death, while Mohammed al-Shalabi was fatally shot.
- The US State Department is aware of Musallet's death but has not commented further, citing family privacy.
- The incident is part of a broader pattern of increasing violence in the West Bank, with over 1,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023.
- The Palestinian health ministry and Musallet's family are calling for an investigation into the killings.
In a tragic escalation of violence in the West Bank, two Palestinians, including a dual US citizen, were killed in an attack by Israeli settlers. The incident occurred in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, on Friday evening, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old Palestinian-American from Florida, was reportedly beaten to death while attempting to protect his family's land. His family stated that Israeli settlers surrounded him for over three hours, preventing paramedics from providing life-saving aid. Musallet, affectionately known as Saif, had traveled to the West Bank in June to visit relatives. His family described him as a kind and ambitious young man who had recently opened an ice-cream shop in Tampa.
The second victim, Mohammed al-Shalabi, 23, was shot in the chest and left to bleed for hours before medical help could reach him. Both men are set to be buried together on Sunday, as confirmed by Musallet's cousin.
The Israeli military reported that stones were thrown at Israelis near Sinjil, leading to a violent confrontation involving vandalism, arson, and physical clashes. The military stated that they are investigating the deaths and the involvement of Israeli civilians in the incident.
The US State Department acknowledged the death of Musallet but refrained from further comment, respecting the family's privacy. Musallet's family has urged the US government to investigate and hold the perpetrators accountable.
This attack is part of a surge in violence in the West Bank, with over 1,000 Palestinians killed since the Hamas raid into southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The Palestinian health ministry and local witnesses have reported increasing settler aggression, raising concerns about the safety of Palestinian communities in the region.
What this might mean
The deaths of Sayfollah Musallet and Mohammed al-Shalabi highlight the ongoing tensions and violence in the West Bank, which could further strain Israeli-Palestinian relations. The call for a US-led investigation into Musallet's death may increase international pressure on Israel to address settler violence. If the US State Department takes action, it could lead to diplomatic discussions aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region. However, without accountability and resolution, the cycle of violence may continue, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the West Bank.
