US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee says he has requested Israeli authorities to “aggressively examine” the killing of a Palestinian-American within the occupied West Financial institution.
Sayfollah Musallat, generally known as Saif – a 20-year-old twin US citizen – was overwhelmed to loss of life by Israeli settlers within the city of Sinjil on Friday, based on the Palestinian well being ministry.
After an initially muted US response, Huckabee – a supporter of Israeli settlements within the Palestinian territories – described it as a “felony and terrorist act” on Tuesday.
In a information briefing on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump mentioned a gathering on the killing could be held on Thursday, including: “They will be reporting that to me.”
On Friday, the Israeli navy mentioned it was investigating, claiming {that a} “violent confrontation developed” after “terrorists” threw stones at Israeli civilians.
Saif Musallat lived in Tampa, Florida and was visiting family in Sinjil, north of Ramallah, when he was killed alongside together with his good friend, Mohammed al-Shalabi.
Al-Shalabi, who lived in a city close by, died after being shot within the chest, the Palestinian well being ministry mentioned. He was 23 years outdated.
Musallat’s household mentioned their relative was “defending his household’s land from settlers who had been making an attempt to steal it”.
Israeli settlers additionally blocked an ambulance making an attempt to succeed in Musallat, who died earlier than he might make it to hospital, they added.
The household have referred to as for the US state division to hold out an investigation.
In his response on Tuesday, Huckabee wrote on X: “There should be accountability for this felony and terrorist act. Saif was simply 20 yrs outdated.”
The US ambassador, a former governor of Arkansas and evangelical Christian, has beforehand voiced sturdy assist for Israeli settlements – that are seen as unlawful beneath worldwide legislation.
Huckabee has additionally been criticised by opposition Democrats within the US over his earlier statements concerning the ongoing struggle in Gaza.
He has backed the thought of a “better Israel” – the place Israel would have everlasting management of the Occupied Palestinian Territories – and used the biblical time period “Judea and Samaria” to confer with the West Financial institution.
Final month, he criticised US allies, together with the UK and Australia, for sanctioning two far-right Israeli ministers over “repeated incitements of violence in opposition to Palestinian communities” within the West Financial institution.
