Sayfollah “Saif” Musallet was a 20-year-old Palestinian-American from Houston. Tragically, Israeli settlers killed him while he was visiting family in the occupied West Bank. The attack occurred on a small family-run farm in Baten al-Hawa, just outside of Jerusalem. Musallet had been there at the end of the first week of June. His family claimed that he was badly beaten by a group of settlers. Despite suffering life-threatening injuries, he died before reaching the hospital.
Musallet’s early years were spent in Florida. Since then, he started an ice cream shop in Tampa with his father. As family members remembered him, they painted the vivid picture of a loving brother and son who was just starting to realize the full potential of his adulthood. His untimely death led Americans to protest and call for action and accountability. His family has been especially outspoken, demanding that the U.S. State Department investigate his killing.
The attack took place in Area B. Although this area is administratively governed by the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli military retains security control and oversight. Eyewitness accounts corroborate that a crowd of settlers blocked ambulances from reaching Musallet for three hours after the attack. Mohammed Nael Hijaz, a close friend of Musallet’s, immediately rushed to the location just as the attack occurred. He was the first sidebar.
I was the first one to get to Saif,” Hijaz reminisced. He had stopped breathing by the time I arrived and was hardly moving. There was time to save him.
Even with the seriousness of the situation, a long delay occurred before medical personnel arrived. Musallet’s family made clear their overwhelming sense of loss and injustice at his death. They described him as “a kind and hard-working and deeply respected young man,” noting his ambition and connection to his Palestinian heritage.
The Israeli military announced that it would launch an investigation into the incident leading to Musallet’s death. However, doubt lingers among local residents about the impact of any such investigations. Hijaz expressed concerns about escalating violence from settlers, stating, “Their aggression is increasing by the day. The Israeli army comes to protect them and don’t do anything to stop them from attacking us. No one can hold the settlers accountable.”
Their demand for accountability doesn’t just stop with their local authorities — they’re calling on the U.S. government as a whole to act. They have urged the State Department to make sure the Israeli settlers are held accountable for Musallet’s killing. This demand highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories and raises questions about the safety of Palestinians living under occupation.
As the community’s reactions are still unfolding, it’s clear that people are grieving and angry over the loss of Musallet’s life. Hijaz noted the shared sentiment among friends and family: “The settlers want to take over our land.” This is emblematic of the larger issue of land conflict and violence in the area.