The U.S. State Department has confirmed the killing of a Palestinian-American citizen in the occupied West Bank by Israeli settlers this week. According to his family and Palestinian officials, the victim died as a result of an arson attack carried out by settlers.
In a statement, the State Department said: “We can confirm the death of a U.S. citizen in the town of Silwad in the West Bank,” adding: “We condemn any criminal violence committed by any party in the Palestinian territories.”
According to The Times of Israel, the Palestinian-American man, Khamis Abdel Latif Ayad, 41, died on Thursday from smoke inhalation after Israeli settlers set fire to homes and cars in the central West Bank town of Silwad. This was the latest in a series of violent settler attacks against Palestinians.
During a press conference held Friday in Chicago, Ayad’s family said he had moved to the West Bank several years ago with his wife and children but continued to work remotely for an American company.
Second Palestinian-American Killed in a Month
Ayad is the second U.S. citizen killed by settler violence in the West Bank in July alone. Earlier in the month, Saeif Al-Deen Muslet, 20, was beaten to death while visiting his family in the town of Sinjil. His family urged the U.S. State Department to investigate, but no formal probe has been announced.
At the time, a U.S. State Department spokesperson stated, “We have no higher priority than the safety of American citizens abroad,” referring any further questions about the investigation to “the Israeli government.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called for an Israeli investigation into Muslet’s killing, labeling it a “criminal and terrorist act.” However, he has yet to comment publicly on Ayad’s death.
The Israeli military said it received reports of the arson attack and dispatched forces to the scene, but all suspects had fled by the time soldiers arrived.
According to the Israeli army, Palestinians threw stones at soldiers combing the area. The soldiers found a burned vehicle and settler graffiti at the scene.
An Israeli military official said the authorities requested the Palestinian Authority to provide Ayad’s autopsy results. A police investigation into arson and vandalism is reportedly underway.
Lack of Accountability for Muslim-Americans
Ayad is the fifth Palestinian-American killed in the occupied territories since the beginning of the war on Gaza. Among the others:
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Saeif Allah Muslet, from Tampa, Florida, was beaten to death by settlers.
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Teenagers Tawfiq Abdul-Jabbar and Mohammed Khaddour were shot by Israeli forces while driving in the West Bank in early 2024.
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In April 2025, 14-year-old Amer Rabee, born in New Jersey, was shot in the head by Israeli forces while standing in an almond orchard in his family’s village.
To date, no one has been arrested or charged in any of these killings. Based on Israel’s track record, justice appears unlikely.
According to the Associated Press, families of the victims believe that the first word in their identity—Palestinian—weakens the power of the second—American. Many say that Israel’s law enforcement has treated them as suspects, imposing travel bans or detaining and interrogating them.
While the Trump administration refrained from promising investigations into these cases, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem urged Israel to examine the circumstances surrounding each American’s death.
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, along with 28 other Democratic senators, called for investigations. In a letter this week to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pam Bondi, they referenced the “persistent lack of accountability” after Muslet and other Americans were killed in the West Bank.
Another Killing by Settlers
In a separate incident, residents of Aqraba village in Nablus held a funeral on Sunday for Mu’in Sobhi Mohammad Asfar, a 24-year-old Palestinian shot dead by Israeli settlers the previous day.
According to Aqraba mayor Salah Jaber, the young man was killed during a 30-minute gun battle that injured eight others.
“The attack took place dangerously close to civilian homes. People went out to defend their area, homes, and farmland,” Jaber said. “The gunfire was clearly meant to kill. The injuries were extremely severe—even in the limbs. One person was killed instantly.”
Jaber added that although Israeli soldiers were present during the incident, “they appeared to side more with the settlers than with protecting the Palestinians.”
Settler Violence and Israeli Military Escalation
Violence in the West Bank has surged since Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli war on Gaza.
Settler attacks on Palestinians now occur almost daily, largely with impunity—prompting mounting sanctions from Western governments.
According to the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, settlers committed 2,153 attacks in the first half of this year alone.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s military and settlers have intensified violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem—killing at least 1,012 Palestinians, injuring around 7,000, and arresting more than 18,500, according to official Palestinian data.