US Demands Probe in Palestinian-American's West Bank Death

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has called for a thorough investigation into the killing of Saif Musallet, a 20-year-old Palestinian-American beaten to death by Israeli settlers in Sinjil, West Bank. Huckabee, typically supportive of Israeli settlement expansion, described the killing as a 'criminal and terrorist act' and urged accountability. Israeli authorities arrested two minors in connection with the attack but released them to house arrest, drawing criticism over the handling of the investigation. The US State Department has not responded to calls for its own probe, despite pressure from US lawmakers and the Musallet family. The incident highlights a surge in settler violence in the West Bank since the 2023 Gaza war, and international rights groups have raised concerns. Critics point out that Israel rarely prosecutes settlers for violence against Palestinians, noting a pattern in cases involving US citizens.