Overview

• Ambassador Mike Huckabee labeled the July 11 death of 20-year-old Saif Musallet a criminal and terrorist act and urged an aggressive Israeli probe into the settler attack.
• The U.S. State Department is providing consular support to Musallet’s family while deferring investigatory questions to Israeli authorities.
• Israel’s military announced its own investigation but has yet to respond to allegations that it prevented ambulances from reaching the beaten victim.
• Groups including J Street and CAIR have backed the family’s demand for a parallel U.S.-led inquiry to hold extremist settlers accountable.
• The case underscores a sharp rise in West Bank settler violence since October 2023 and highlights concerns over impunity and unequal protections for Palestinian-Americans.