TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A funeral was held on Sunday in the West Bank for a Palestinian American man from Tampa and his friend who were allegedly killed by Israeli settlers.
Mourners waved Palestinian flags and chanted “God is great,” as both men’s bodies were carried through the streets.
The Palestinian Health Ministry says Sayafollah Musallet, 20, also known as Saif, was beaten to death on Friday while visiting relatives in Sinjil. The ministry said his friend was shot in the chest.
Sayafollah’s father, Kamil Musallet, said the alleged attack happened on his family’s land and is calling on the U.S. government to investigate.
“We demand justice against these settler terrorists. There’s no question about that. They’re on illegal land, it’s not theirs. We demand the U.S. government to do something about it. They’re always saying for ‘justice, justice, justice,’ but as Palestinians they dehumanize us. We’re not, basically, normal humans to them.”
Israel’s military said Palestinians hurled rocks at Israelis in the area, lightly wounding two people and setting off a larger confrontation.
The State Department said it had no comment out of respect for the family.
