logo
‘Why are you not preventing settler terrorism': Palestinians call out IDF following beating death of American man

‘Why are you not preventing settler terrorism': Palestinians call out IDF following beating death of American man

Mazra'a ash-Sharqiya, West Bank
CNN — Saif Musallet was just weeks away from celebrating his 21st birthday, and as he visited his family here, the Florida native's thoughts began to turn toward marriage.
'I think it's time for me to get married,' Musallet told his father, Kamel, during a phone call last week. 'Hopefully while I'm here, I'm able to find a future spouse to get engaged to.'
That phone call would be Kamel's last conversation with his son. Days later, Saif was beaten to death by Israeli settlers, according to his family and eyewitnesses.
Musallet was one of two men killed that day by settlers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, while they were in the neighboring town of Sinjil, where their families own farmland.
Hundreds turned out on Sunday, braving the afternoon sun, for the funeral processions of the two men, carrying their bodies to their final resting place. Some mourners openly wept, burying their faces in the Palestinian flags wrapped around the bodies.
People carry the body of Saif Musallet during his funeral near Ramallah, in the Israel-occupied West Bank on Sunday.
Ammar Awad/Reuters
They are among nearly 1,000 Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli military or settlers since the region erupted into war on October 7, 2023, according to the United Nations.
Their deaths mark the latest escalation in settler attacks in Sinjil, where Palestinian residents say settlers have encroached on their land over the last two months and terrorized Palestinians.
Musallet was among dozens of Palestinians who drove to Sinjil together after Friday prayers seeking to reach their land. They say they were attacked by settlers wielding rocks, clubs and guns.
Amid it all, a group of settlers came down on Musallet, beating him with sticks or clubs, eyewitnesses told CNN.
Musallet's younger brother managed to reach him and called for help. He said Musallet was unconscious, but still breathing and needed an ambulance.
But for at least two hours, no ambulance could reach him. Settlers were still roaming the area and had already shattered the windshield of an ambulance that day. On the other side, the Israeli military was firing tear gas to disperse the crowd of Palestinians and refusing to allow the ambulances to pass for hours.
By the time the ambulance reached Musallet, his face was blue, and he had stopped breathing.
'Nobody could get to him,' Musallet's father, Kamel, said.
Saif Musallet
Musallet family
Saif Musallet
Musallet family
He now says he holds the Israeli military just as responsible for his son's death as the settlers who beat him.
'They prevented the ambulance and allowed the settlers to do what they do anytime they want to,' Kamel Musallet said. 'I hold the Israeli military just as responsible as the settlers and the American government for not doing anything about this. You know, why are you not telling the IDF? Why are you not preventing settler terrorism?'
The Israeli military has said it is investigating Musallet's death but did not respond to allegations that it prevented ambulances from reaching him.
The Musallet family has called on the United States to investigate Musallet's killing. Beyond a condolence call from the US consulate, Kamel Musallet said he has heard nothing more from the Trump administration, which earlier this year lifted sanctions on Israeli settlers imposed by the previous administration.
Saif Musallet was born and raised in Port Charlotte, Florida and owned an ice cream shop with his father in Tampa, where his father said Saif's 'gentle soul' shone through.
'Everyone loved him. Everyone loved Saif,' his father said.
But Kamel Musallet says he believes there is a double-standard – that the US government would be taking his son's killing more seriously if he were American-Israeli.
'We want justice. We want the American-Israeli and the American-Palestinian to be in the same class,' Kamel Musallet said. 'These are Americans. But for some reason, the American-Palestinian is differentiated from the American-Israeli.'
Hafez Abdel Jabbar, who is also a US citizen, was among the Palestinians on the scene that day. He said settlers and soldiers prevented ambulances from reaching Musallet for hours, until a vehicle with officers from COGAT, Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, showed up and agreed to escort him through.
Abdel Jabbar believes Musallet could have been saved had they been allowed through earlier.
'Oh yes, of course,' Abdel Jabbar said. 'From the first minute, from the first call … he was breathing.'
Settlers attack vehicle containing CNN crew
CNN witnessed settler violence in Sinjil first-hand on Sunday, when we came under attack from a group of settlers who smashed the window of our vehicle.
As Abdel Jabbar drove CNN to the site where he found Musallet's unconscious body, a white car began following the team.
Inside were a group of at least four settlers, who covered their faces as they began pursuing our vehicle.
As we approached a nearby intersection, the settlers got out of their car and tried to pelt our vehicle, but then turned around as CNN approached a nearby Israeli border police vehicle.
The border police unit immediately headed out to search for the settlers after being alerted by CNN.
But minutes later, our team was ambushed. The settlers had hidden out of sight of the border police and attacked.
One assailant wielding some sort of club or mallet struck CNN's vehicle, shattering the rear window as our team sped off. Israel police said they opened 'a proactive investigation in pursuit of justice' into the attack and that such incidents are treated 'extremely seriously.'
'If it would've taken us five more seconds, we all would've been beaten,' Abdel Jabbar said.
But for Abdel Jabbar, it is just a taste of the grim reality he is forced to face in the West Bank. His son, Tawfic, was killed in January 2024 by an Israeli settler.
'You scream to the whole world and the whole world is watching – simply silent – seeing all these mothers put their sons that they worked so hard to raise them up for 20 years,' Abdel Jabbar said. 'And you pick them up when you put them in the ground, under the sky. And the silence goes on and on and on.'
'What hurts you deeply is the silence of the whole world.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tsukerman: Sisi Sent a Clear Message by Invoking Trump in Gaza Speech
Tsukerman: Sisi Sent a Clear Message by Invoking Trump in Gaza Speech

See - Sada Elbalad

time21 minutes ago

  • See - Sada Elbalad

Tsukerman: Sisi Sent a Clear Message by Invoking Trump in Gaza Speech

H-Tayea Geopolitical analyst Irina Tsukerman has weighed in on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's speech delivered on Monday, describing it as a calculated and strategic appeal that reframes the Gaza crisis as a test of global leadership, and places US President Donald Trump at the center of that equation. In his address yesterday, President Sisi broke with conventional diplomatic language by directly invoking Trump by name, presenting the former U.S. president as the only global figure capable of ending the war in Gaza. According to Tsukerman, this was far from symbolic. 'It was a deliberate and pointed message,' she said, 'meant to express frustration with the current stagnation in diplomacy and to draw attention to Trump's historical influence over Israel and regional dynamics.' Sisi's speech, which came amid continued humanitarian collapse in Gaza, also emphasized Egypt's ongoing role as mediator and aid facilitator. He detailed the efforts to coordinate humanitarian access through the Rafah and Kerem Abu Salem crossings, stressing that 600 to 700 trucks per day are needed to meet basic needs—far more than what is currently allowed. Tsukerman noted that this language was aimed at highlighting Egypt's burden, while subtly pushing Israel, Hamas, and the United States to remove obstacles that are blocking critical aid. She also pointed out that Sisi's direct reference to Trump served as a clear rebuke to the current U.S. administration, especially in light of the recent collapse of the Doha talks, which failed to yield any breakthrough. By bypassing traditional multilateral diplomacy, Sisi appeared to be advocating for decisive personality-driven action, reminiscent of previous Trump-era interventions in the region. In his remarks, Sisi also made it clear that Egypt rejects any proposal for the displacement of Palestinians into Sinai, asserting that Egypt would not tolerate forced relocation under any circumstances. Tsukerman emphasized that this statement was more than a domestic message—it was a reaffirmation of Egypt's long-standing support for the two-state solution and a firm stance against any plan that seeks to resolve the crisis at the expense of Egyptian sovereignty or regional stability. 'Sisi's message was not just about aid or diplomacy,' Tsukerman said. 'It was about redefining the conversation around Gaza and assigning responsibility to the international actors who can actually shift the outcome.' The speech, delivered on Monday, was one of the most assertive public statements by the Egyptian president since the beginning of the current Gaza war. And by placing the burden of action on Trump's shoulders, Sisi reframed the crisis as not just a regional conflict, but a moment of global reckoning. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani

MCE Condemns Terrorist Attack on Catholic Church in Congo
MCE Condemns Terrorist Attack on Catholic Church in Congo

See - Sada Elbalad

time22 minutes ago

  • See - Sada Elbalad

MCE Condemns Terrorist Attack on Catholic Church in Congo

Mohamed Mandour The Muslim Council of Elders, chaired by Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, on Monday strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack on a Catholic church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which left several civilians dead and many others wounded. In an official statement, the Council denounced the assault as a "heinous and cowardly act" and described the targeting of places of worship as a 'horrific crime that contradicts the teachings of all religions and violates universal human, moral, and spiritual values.' The Council extended its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Congo, as well as to the families of the victims, offering prayers for the recovery of those injured and for strength and solace to the bereaved. 'This attack is a painful reminder of the urgent need for global unity against terrorism in all its forms,' the statement added. The incident marks another tragic blow to the ongoing struggle for peace and security in the central African nation. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani

OIC Participates at UN Conference on Palestinian Issue
OIC Participates at UN Conference on Palestinian Issue

See - Sada Elbalad

time22 minutes ago

  • See - Sada Elbalad

OIC Participates at UN Conference on Palestinian Issue

Mohamed Mandour On behalf of the OIC Secretary-General, Amb. Samir Bakr, Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Al-Quds Affairs, participated, at the head of the OIC General Secretariat's delegation made up of Ambassador Hameed Opeloyeru, OIC Representative to the United Nations, Mr. Adel Salama from the OIC Department of Palestine and Al-Quds Affairs and Mr. Jean Iqbal from the OIC Mission to the United Nations, at the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Issue and the implementation of the two-state solution, launched at the UN Headquarters in New York, under the co-chairmanship of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France. The three-day Conference was opened with the speeches of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister, Mr. Jean-Noël Barrot, French Foreign Minister, Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, Palestinian Prime Minister, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in which they emphasized the importance of this meeting in mobilizing the international community's responsibility to protect the two-state solution, end the Israeli occupation and achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The states will discuss, over eight sessions, the practical steps to materialize the sovereign Palestinian State, end the Israeli occupation, and achieve a fair and lasting peace in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions. A large number of senior ministers and officials from the UN member states, international and regional organizations, and the UN specialized bodies are participating in the conference taking place from 28 to 30 July. The conference will issue a final document inclusive of the practical measures and steps to enforce the two-state solution based on the international legitimacy's resolutions. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results Arts & Culture Lebanese Media: Fayrouz Collapses after Death of Ziad Rahbani

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store