A 20 -year -old American from Florida was supposedly beaten until death by Israeli settlers while visiting his family in the West Bank, according to Palestinian health officials and his family.
Sayfollah “Saif” Musallet was killed in the city of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the West Bank.
A second man was also shot dead in the attacks, according to the Ministry of Health.
Musallet was trying to protect the land of his family from Israeli settlers, who surrounded him for more than three hours, blocking the ambulance of reaching him, according to his family. He died before arriving at the hospital, they said.
A section of a fence built by the Israeli forces surrounding the Bank Sinjil village, on July 9, 2025.
Leo Correa/AP
He is the fifth American murdered in the West Bank since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when 1,200 Israelis were killed in a terrorist attack led by Hamas against southern Israel.
Musallet was born in Florida, lived in Tampa and led a business there, according to his family. He had traveled to the West Bank on June 4, they said.
“He was a kind, hardworking and respected young man, working to build his dreams. Saif built a successful business in Tampa and was known for his generosity, ambition and connection with his Palestinian heritage,” his family said in a statement.
An advanced position of Israeli settlers is seen in the area next to the town of Sinjil de Bencedania, on July 9, 2025.
Leo Correa/AP
Israel’s defense forces said it was “aware of the reports on a Palestinian civilian already killed several Palestinians injured as a result of confrontation, and Israel’s police are investigating them.”
The IDF said that rocks were thrown to the Israeli settlers adjacent to Sinjil, causing light injuries.
“Shortly after, a violent confrontation was developed in the area that involves Israeli Palestinians and civilians, which included vandalism of Palestinian property, fire caused, physical confrontations and throwing rocks,” said the IDF.
The concrete blocks placed by the Israeli soldiers after October 7, 2023, according to local residents, are seen in one of the village entries, which promotes access to the Palestinians in the village of Sinjil de Cisela West, July 9, 2025.
Leo Correa/AP
Musallet’s family demands that “the United States Department of State leads immediate investigation and holds the Israeli settlers who killed Musallet responsible for their crimes.”
“This is an unimaginable nightmare and injustice that no family should have to face,” the family said in a statement.
The family said they demand “justice.”
The Palestinians go up a hill next to the fires while trying to chase Israeli settlers in the town of Sinjil, in the West Bank occupied on July 4, 2025.
John Wessels/AFP through Getty Images
“We are devastated that our beloved Sayfollah Musallet (nicknamed Saif) was brutally hit until death by Israeli settlers while protected the land of his family from the settlers who tried to steal him,” said his family.
ABC News has communicated with the United States Department of State to comment.
A spokesman for the US Department of State.
Four other Americans have been killed in the West Bank since October 7, 2023. Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, 17, was killed on January 19, 2024; Mohammad Alkhdour, 17, was killed on February 10, 2024; Aysenur Eygi, 26, was killed on September 6, 2024; and Amer Rabee, 14, was killed on April 6, 2025.
