West Bank Family of US citizen call for inquiry into his death

The family of Khamis al-Ayyad, a Palestinian American who died last week during an Israeli settler attack in the occupied West Bank, has called for an investigation into his death, amid a rising number of US citizens killed in the territory.

- William Christou Sufian Taha Jerusalem

Ayyad, a 40-year-old father of five and Chicago resident, died from smoke inhalation last week after Israeli settlers attacked the town of Silwad, outside Ramallah, setting homes and cars on fire. Ayyad fainted while trying to put out the fires, his brother said, and died on the way to the hospital.

He was the latest in a string of Palestinian Americans to have died in the West Bank: five US citizens have been killed there since 7 October 2023, and Ayyad was the second to die in July alone. So far, no one has been held accountable for the deaths.

Ayyad's brother, Anas al-Ayyad, 39, said: "The government should protect citizens, this is what is written on the US passport. Why do they do nothing when it comes to their own citizens who live in the West Bank?"

Anas al-Ayyad said he had contacted US officials, who promised him they would look into his brother's death. In a statement to the Guardian, a spokesperson for the US state department acknowledged the death of a US citizen in Silwad and said it was providing consular assistance to the family.