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Clashes erupted in the West Bank town of Al-Mazr’a Ash-Sharqiya that is occupied by Israel on Sunday as hundreds showed up for the funeral of two Palestinian men, one an American citizen, who were killed in an attack by Israeli settlers.
Sayfollah Musallet, a 21-year-old Palestinian American from Tampa, Florida, was beaten to death, and 23-year-old Hussein Al-Shalabi was shot in the chest and killed during an altercation on Friday evening, Palestinian health officials and eyewitnesses reported.
Musallet had been back in the town only weeks before to see his mother, a vacation he took almost every summer. His father, Kamel Musallet, who came from the US to bury his son, voiced profound anger over the silence of the US government. “There’s no accountability. I don’t want his death to go in vain,” he said, prompting Washington to act.
The attack has made Palestinian Americans in the area feel betrayed. Domi, 18, who returned to the West Bank from the United States, said fear now holds the community in its grip, and families are questioning if it is safe for their children to stay.
The US State Department confirmed knowledge of Musallet’s death but otherwise did not comment, deferring investigation duties to Israeli officials. It said, “The safety and security of US citizens overseas is our highest priority.”
The Israeli military reported it was investigating the event, stating that it started when Palestinians hurled stones at the settlers, who were some injured.
Settler attacks in the West Bank have increased since the Israel-Hamas conflict started in late 2023, with rights organizations witnessing more attacks. Palestinian fatalities, however, keep piling up, while faith in US protection for its people in the region is diminishing fast.
“It is like a betrayal,” commented Domi, among a mounting perception of Palestinian Americans based in the West Bank.
