U.S. State Department: We are aware of the death of an American who was stabbed by settlers in the West Bank

SadaNews - The U.S. State Department stated last night that it is aware of reports concerning the death of an American citizen in the West Bank, following news that he was beaten to death by Israeli settlers.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the citizen, Saif Al-Din Kamal Abdul Karim Maslat (23 years old), was martyred after being severely beaten by Israeli settlers last night, Friday, in an attack that also resulted in the death of another young man, Mohammed Rizq Hussein Al-Shalabi, and injured several others in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah.

The Washington Post quoted relatives of the martyr, who is from Tampa, Florida, saying he was beaten to death by Israeli settlers.

Relatives of Saif Allah Kamal Maslat and the Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that Maslat was fatally beaten by Israeli settlers in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah.

A spokesman for the U.S. State Department said, "We are aware of reports of the death of an American citizen in the West Bank," adding that the department has no additional comment "out of respect for the privacy of the victim's family and loved ones."

The Israeli military stated that it is investigating the incident that occurred in the town of Sinjil.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated in March that Israel has expanded and reinforced settlements in the West Bank as part of the ongoing integration of these territories into the state of Israel, in violation of international law.

Settler violence in the West Bank has increased, including incursions into occupied territories and raids since the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza in late 2023.

Last year, the highest court of the United Nations stated that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal, as is the construction of settlements, and must be ended as soon as possible.