The family of Khamis Ayyad, a 40-year-old U.S. citizen killed in the West Bank, is demanding the Trump administration launch an investigation into his death, describing it as a murder. Ayyad, a former Chicago resident, is the second American citizen to be killed in the West Bank this month, with no arrests made in the previous case. Relatives believe Ayyad died from inhaling tear gas and smoke after settlers set fire to cars outside his home, amidst escalating settler attacks and Israeli military actions. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) highlights this as part of a pattern of violence, emphasizing the need for U.S. action to protect its citizens. Despite previous calls for investigations, including one in a previous case of a slain U.S. citizen, Washington has resisted probes into Israeli actions.
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On July 4, 2025, masked Israeli settlers were reported to have attacked Palestinians in the West Bank village of Sinjil, resulting in the death of a US-Palestinian man, Saif al-Din Kamil Abdul Karim Musalat, and another Palestinian man, Mohammed Rizq Hussein al-Shalabi. Musalat’s family has demanded that the US State Department launch an immediate investigation into his death, alleging that he was killed while protecting family land from the settlers. The State Department has acknowledged the reports of the US citizen’s death. The incident is part of a concerning trend of rising violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, as the UN has noted, with the recent conflict escalating since October 2023.
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US awareness of the reported death of an American after a beating by Israeli settlers is now a stark reality, and it’s a situation that demands careful consideration. The initial reports, which seem to be accurate, depict a brutal event: an American citizen, allegedly beaten to death by Israeli settlers. The details are horrific, and the fact that an American life has been taken in this manner is undeniably serious. It’s a situation the US State Department has acknowledged, though their response, so far, has been measured.
The initial reaction from the State Department, as described, is one of acknowledging the reports and respecting the privacy of the victim’s family.… Continue reading
Following the Oscars win for their documentary “No Other Land,” which details the struggle of Masafer Yatta residents against Israeli demolitions, co-director Hamdan Ballal was beaten by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and subsequently detained by the Israeli military. Witnesses reported numerous settlers, some armed and masked, attacked the village, with soldiers present. The Israeli military claims the Palestinians were arrested for throwing rocks, a claim disputed by witnesses. This incident is viewed by some as retaliatory, highlighting the ongoing conflict and tensions surrounding the film’s subject matter.
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I am absolutely outraged by the recent attack on Gaza aid trucks by Israeli settlers. It is incredibly despicable to think that anyone would try to prevent innocent people from receiving the aid they so desperately need for survival. The fact that this is happening due to the actions of Israeli settlers is even more infuriating.
It is clear that the settlers are behaving like terrorists, and it is time for the US government to take a stand. The White House’s condemnation of this attack is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done. The US should halt all aid to Israel until they deal with these settlers who have continuously been obstructing the path to a two-state solution by expanding further into the West Bank.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood