Palestinian-American Killed in Reported Attack by Israeli Settlers in Occupied West Bank
Palestinian-American Dies Following Reported Settler Attack in Occupied West Bank
July 12, 2025 — Ramallah
A 23-year-old Palestinian-American, Sayfollah Musallet, was killed during an attack by Israeli settlers near the town of Sinjil in the occupied West Bank, according to his family and Palestinian health officials.
Musallet, who was visiting relatives in the village of al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya, was reportedly beaten and left critically injured. His family alleges that settlers blocked emergency medical teams from reaching him for several hours. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Another man, identified as Mohammad Rizq Hussein al Shalabi, was also killed during the same incident. He was reportedly shot and left without medical assistance at the scene.
The Israeli military confirmed it is investigating what it described as a “violent confrontation” involving arson, damage to property, and clashes between groups. As of now, no arrests have been announced.
The U.S. State Department acknowledged reports of a U.S. citizen’s death, stating that the safety of Americans abroad remains a top priority, while offering no further details out of respect for the family’s privacy.
Musallet, originally from Florida and raised in Port Charlotte, had been in the West Bank since June. He was remembered by family members as kind and community-oriented, helping run the family’s ice cream business in the United States.
The incident occurred amid rising tensions in the area. According to local sources, the attack was linked to protests over a new settlement outpost near Sinjil. Palestinian media also reported that settlers damaged an ambulance during the incident.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has documented over 2,000 settler-related incidents targeting Palestinians or their property since January 2024. More than 350 Palestinians have been injured in such incidents this year alone.
Musallet is the seventh American reported killed in the region since October 2023. Six of those deaths have been attributed to Israeli military actions, according to Palestinian officials.
