The family of a Palestinian-American killed by settlers in the occupied West Bank has called on the US State Department to investigate his killing.
The family said in a statement carried by its representative, Diana Halloum, that Saif al-Din Musalat, 20, had been living in Florida , where he was born, and had visited the West Bank in early June "to spend time with his relatives."
"This is an unimaginable nightmare, and an injustice no family should ever have to go through," she continued. "We demand that the US State Department conduct an immediate investigation and that the settlers who killed Saif be held accountable for their crimes."
For its part, the US State Department confirmed on Saturday that one of its citizens had died in the West Bank, offering its "deepest condolences to the family and loved ones for their loss."
"The State Department has no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens abroad," a State Department spokesperson said, noting that "questions regarding any investigation will be directed to the government of Israel ."
severe beating
Yesterday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that Saif "died after being severely beaten all over his body by settlers in the afternoon in Sinjil," north of Ramallah .
For its part, the family indicated that he "was severely beaten to death while protecting his family's land from settlers who were trying to steal it."
Meanwhile, the Israeli army said in a statement that a "violent confrontation" erupted after two Israeli civilians sustained "minor injuries" from stone-throwing near Sinjil, north of Ramallah. The statement also noted "acts of vandalism against Palestinian property, fires, fistfights, and stone-throwing."
