Israel Probes Death of U.S.-Palestinian Citizen Amid Violent Clashes Near Ramallah.
Israel’s defense establishment has launched an investigation into the reported death of a Palestinian Arab man with American citizenship during violent clashes between Palestinian Arabs and Israeli civilians near the village of Sinjil, north of Ramallah, on Friday. The incident, reported by Palestinian Authority (PA) sources, has drawn scrutiny due to the man’s nationality and the circumstances of the confrontation.
According to initial reports, the 23-year-old man from al-Mazra’a ash-Sharqiya was struck in the head with a blunt object, possibly a club, and succumbed to his injuries. The PA Health Ministry claimed he was “violently attacked by settlers,” and asserted that ten other Palestinians were also injured during the incident.
In its statement, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit acknowledged receiving reports of the fatality and confirmed that two Israeli civilians were lightly injured earlier that day when rocks were thrown at them by Palestinian assailants near Sinjil. The rock-throwing allegedly sparked a violent escalation, involving Israeli civilians and Palestinians in clashes that included property vandalism, arson, physical altercations, and further rock throwing.
The IDF confirmed that forces from the IDF, Israel Police, and Border Police were dispatched to the scene “to disperse the confrontation” and that riot control measures were used until the rioters dispersed.
Security officials, including the Israel Security Agency (ISA) and Israel Police, are currently investigating both the death and the broader circumstances surrounding the violence.
Palestinian sources say the clashes broke out as villagers from Sinjil and nearby areas were marching toward Khirbet al-Tal to protest a newly established illegal Israeli outpost, which they claim was built on village land. According to Wafa, the official PA news agency, the protesters were confronted and allegedly attacked by dozens of Israeli settlers attempting to block their path.
The IDF emphasized that it remains “committed to maintaining order and the safety of all of the area’s residents” and is acting against all forms of violence within its area of responsibility.
The involvement of a U.S. citizen in the fatality adds a sensitive diplomatic layer to an already volatile situation, with both local tensions and international scrutiny expected to intensify as investigations continue.
