By: Carl Schwartzbaum

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee issued a forceful call on Monday for a full investigation into the death of Saif Musallet, a 20-year-old American citizen reportedly killed by Israeli settlers in the town of Sinjil, located in the Judea and Samaria region of Israel. As reported by The Algemeiner on Tuesday, Huckabee’s statement marked one of his strongest public condemnations of settler violence since assuming his diplomatic post in November 2024.

“There must be accountability for this criminal and terrorist act,” Huckabee wrote on social media, emphasizing that Saif Musallet, a native of Florida, was just 20 years old at the time of his death. According to the information provided in The Algemeiner report, Musallet had been visiting family in the region and was allegedly attacked on July 11 while accompanying relatives on farmland near Ramallah. Reports indicate that Musallet was beaten severely and denied medical attention for nearly three hours before succumbing to his injuries.

The incident also resulted in the death of another Palestinian man, 23-year-old Mohammad al-Shalabi, who was reportedly shot during the same encounter. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed both fatalities. According to Israeli authorities cited in The Algemeiner report, the violence followed an alleged rock-throwing incident in which two Israelis sustained light injuries — a frequent occurrence in the region that has resulted in numerous civilian casualties over the years. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported using non-lethal crowd control measures during the disturbance and stated that a formal investigation is ongoing.

Two Israeli minors were arrested in connection with the attack, although neither is suspected of direct involvement in the killing of Musallet, as was reported in The Algemeiner. Both minors have since been released to house arrest, raising questions about the thoroughness of the legal proceedings and prompting scrutiny from human rights groups and advocacy organizations.

Musallet, who grew up in Port Charlotte, Florida, had traveled to Judea and Samaria in early June with intentions to visit relatives and explore the possibility of marriage. The Algemeiner report noted that he had recently co-founded a family-run ice cream business in Tampa, highlighting his ties both to the local American community and to his family’s heritage in the region. His death occurs against a backdrop of purported settler-related violence, a trend that has intensified since the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel and the subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Huckabee, a longtime supporter of Israeli settlements, described the incident as “deeply troubling” and reiterated his commitment to the safety of American citizens abroad. He stressed the importance of Israel addressing such incidents with transparency and accountability.

Human rights organizations and local activists claim that Musallet’s killing exemplifies a disturbing pattern of impunity for settler violence against Palestinians, including incidents involving American citizens. The Algemeiner report pointed out that several previous high-profile cases — such as the deaths of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and teenager Omar Mohammad Rabea — have ended without indictments, fueling allegations of systemic bias and lack of accountability.

The case has also drawn the attention of U.S. lawmakers. Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL), who represents Tampa, has joined calls for a thorough investigation into Musallet’s death. The U.S. State Department has acknowledged awareness of the incident and confirmed to The Algemeiner that consular support is being provided to the Musallet family, although officials refrained from commenting further, citing the ongoing Israeli investigation.

Saif Musallet’s funeral was held on Sunday in his family’s hometown of al-Mazra’a ash-Sharqiya. His relatives have voiced demands for justice, not only for Saif but also for other Americans they say are increasingly endangered by lawlessness in the region. As reported by The Algemeiner, family members have called on both Israeli and American authorities to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and that steps are taken to prevent further violence.

The developments surrounding Musallet’s death have called attention to the long-standing tensions and the complexities facing U.S.-Israel relations, particularly with respect to American citizens in these territories that were liberated by Israel from Jordanian rule in 1967.  The incident remains under investigation by Israeli authorities, with significant attention from both diplomatic channels and international human rights advocates.