WASHINGTON

Several US lawmakers mourned the death of Sayfollah Musallet, a Palestinian American who was killed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, urging the State Department to investigate the incident.

"An American was beaten to death by Israeli settlers backed by the military. Instead of pursuing justice for Sayfollah, our government continues to send billions to prop up the apartheid system that killed him and kills Palestinians like him every day. Arms Embargo Now," Rep. Rashida Tlaib said Monday on X.

Twenty-year-old Musallet, a US citizen from Florida, was beaten to death on Friday. His family said in a statement that Israeli settlers surrounded him and prevented an ambulance and paramedics from reaching him to deliver life-saving care for three hours. He died before reaching the hospital.

Rep. Jerry Nadler said he is "horrified by the brutal murder" of Musallet.

"Reports that the settlers prevented ambulances from reaching the victim and IDF soldiers were also present but failed to intervene are deeply disturbing. Violence in the West Bank has reached epidemic levels," said Nadler, who previously introduced the West Bank Violence Prevention Act, which aims to prevent acts of violence in the West Bank.

"I call on my colleagues to join me and cosponsor HR 3045 in the wake of this terrible tragedy, in hopes that one day such violence will cease, and Israelis and Palestinians can live together in peace, security, and stability through a negotiated and viable two-state solution," he added.

Rep. Delia C. Ramirez said Musallet is the sixth Palestinian American "brutally murdered" in the West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023.

"As we mourn Saif, the US State Dept. must launch an immediate investigation into his murder and all murders of Americans in the West Bank as a result of settler and military violence. There must be accountability," Ramirez said.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley said Musallet was the second American killed in the West Bank this year.

"The State Department must lead an immediate investigation and root out settler violence once and for all. There must be accountability," Pressley said.

Rep. Kathy Castor said she is "heartbroken" by the "brutal" killing of Musallet.

"The administration must work with our international partners to ensure the protection of Americans abroad," Castor said in a statement.

Since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, at least 998 Palestinians have been killed and more than 7,000 injured in the West Bank by Israeli forces and illegal settlers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In a landmark opinion last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.