Americans Affected
By Settler Violence

Al Mazra’a ash Sharqiya is a beautiful hilltop town northeast of Ramallah, where many Palestinians in the diaspora, including American citizens, have built beautiful homes. Some families have deep historic ties to the area.

American killed - American teenager Tawfic Abdel Jabbar was born and raised in Gretna, Louisiana. He frequently accompanied his parents and siblings to their ancestral home in the West Bank village of Al-Mazra'a ash-Sharqiya, where the Abdel Jabbar family had lived for over 200 years. Both of his parents had grown up in the village and wanted their children to connect with relatives and learn about Palestinian culture. Tawfiq was in his senior year of high school and was studying remotely in January 2024, when he was shot by an Israeli settler, leading to his death. An interview with the family provides more details, which are summarized below.

On January 19, 2024, Tawfic was driving on Highway 60 in the West Bank on his way to a picnic when an Israeli settler fired at his vehicle. As Tawfiq tried to drive away, an Israeli soldier and an off-duty police officer also fired on the car. After the vehicle overturned, Israeli forces prevented emergency responders from reaching the scene for at least 15 minutes and then prevented a Palestinian ambulance from passing. The ambulance was forced to take a detour to the hospital, where Tawfiq was pronounced dead. Tawfiq was widely loved and admired in his Louisiana hometown. In late January, over 100 cars formed a motorcade in his memory along a New Orleans highway.

Beit Sahour is part of the Bethlehem Governate, built on the site known as the Shepherd’s Field. It includes the hillside where, according to the Gospel of Luke, the news of Jesus’s birth was first proclaimed. It is one of the last Christian-majority towns in the West Bank. For years, the large Israeli settlement of Har Homa has dominated the view to the east of the town, transforming a hill where shepherds grazed their flocks into a warren of cement buildings occupied by Israelis. Now another illegal settlement is being built.

Land confiscated - Rev. Dr. Fares Abraham of Orlando, FL, is an American pastor and native of Beit Sahour. In a December 2025 interview, he said: “In recent weeks, a new illegal Israeli settlement outpost has been established on the edge of Beit Sahour. Caravans and construction equipment have appeared on a site the town had hoped to use for a children’s hospital, cultural center, and public spaces – projects supported by international donors and meant to strengthen a Christian community that has endured for centuries. Instead, those plans are now suspended, and the families who live nearby are bracing for uncertainty, rising tension, and the real possibility of further displacement.”

Family affected - The Abusaada Family of Houston owns land in the town of Beit Sahour. The land has been in their family for generations. Recently, illegal settlers have taken over a hilltop location adjacent to their property and have begun construction of yet another illegal settlement. The hill, known as Ush Ghrab, is a site of profound historical, religious, and cultural significance to Christians around the world. It is traditionally recognized as the place where, according to the Gospel of Luke, the angels announced the birth of Jesus Christ to the shepherds.

The family writes that “Beyond the physical transformation of the landscape, such expansion places additional pressure on already fragile Palestinian Christian communities and directly affects daily life in the following ways: Building this outpost makes it difficult for local Christians to commute between Beit Sahour and nearby cities, restricting normal movement and access to work, churches, and services. Continuous construction in this area threatens safety and stability. The presence of this settlement creates obstacles for students trying to access the American School located near this area, affecting their ability to receive education without disruption. The continuation of this project risks the taking of additional lands belonging to local Christian families, further reducing their already limited space for natural growth and livelihood.”

Birzeit is historically a Christian town north of Ramallah in the West Bank. It dates back to Roman and Byzantine times and today is home to Birzeit University. It has a number of residents who are dual US and Palestinian citizens.

The expansion of Israeli settlements, such as the one at Atara (Ataret), has significantly impacted Birzeit, primarily through the restriction of movement, land confiscation, and increased military presence in the area.

A video from Middle East Eye (MEI) shows settlers setting fire to cars in the town. See video here. Below are screenshots from that video used with MEI’s permission.

American beaten, robbed - Below is an account of a settler attack by a Palestinian American citizen from Birzeit (The names have been changed to protect the family.)

“On Saturday, January 24, 2026, a settler entered the land surrounding Chad’s family home, bringing his sheep with him. The family’s dog immediately barked at the intruders. Chad’s mother went to check the land and discovered the settler grazing his sheep among their olive trees. She asked him to leave, as the sheep had eaten the leaves. Hearing his mother’s voice, Chad and his cousin rushed to see what was happening. By the time they arrived, more settlers had joined the first one. The situation escalated quickly, and in the chaos, the settler threw a stone at Chad’s mother’s head, causing a severe cut to her skull. Chad stepped in to defend his mother, tending to her injuries while also treating his own.

While Chad was at the hospital helping his mother recover, the same settler returned to their home, this time accompanied by an Israeli military patrol. They aggressively approached the house. When they noticed that the family was Christian, a soldier threatened them with his weapon, and the settler verbally abused the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. The family was confined inside the house, unable to receive any help.

During this time, Chad’s brother Etan and his cousin Eamon were beaten, and his cousins Norm and Eamon were arrested. Chad was also threatened over the phone: if he did not surrender, the authorities would arrest the entire family.

During the detention of the household members, several of Chad’s car paint supplies, which were his source of income, were also stolen. When Chad returned from the hospital, he surrendered himself to the authorities. During the arrest, he was assaulted on his hands, provoked, and humiliated. He was held in detention for four days.

On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, while Chad was still in detention and the rest of the family was out of the house—his mother continuing her medical treatment and other family members at work —the settlers exploited the empty house and stole from the home storage. Among the stolen items were gas cylinders, tools belonging to his brother Etan, a generator, electric motors, and other equipment.

On Monday, February 17, 2026, following continued provocations by settlers on the neighbors’ lands, the neighbors went to remove a settler who was grazing his sheep on their property. The responsible settler came with the army and accused Chad of gathering the people of Birzeit to expel him. The army then detained Chad at the Atara checkpoint tower for four hours, during which he was tortured. As a result, Chad became the accused in the eyes of the settlers, simply because he had defended his mother.

Ultimately, the judge acquitted Chad, recognizing that he had acted in defense of his mother against an immediate threat. This story is a testament to courage, family solidarity, and standing up against injustice in the face of danger.”

See Statement to Congress from representatives of Birzeit

Khirbet Humsa is a Bedouin hamlet in the northern part of the Jordan Valley, one of three tiny villages that have been repeatedly demolished by the Israeli military. Israelis have destroyed electricity and water supplies and declared the area a live fire zone. Yet residents have no other home and continue to return. Israeli authorities claim they have offered them other land, but the residents say the land in question is far away and belongs to other Palestinian families.

American beaten, robbed - On March 12th, 2026, a 24-year-old American named Ava Lang was part of a group visiting the Bedouin village of Khirbet Humsa when illegal settlers descended on the village and attacked them along with Palestinian residents. Ava told the New York Times she was beaten and had her watch, rings, wallet and passport stolen. During the attack, the settlers brutally assaulted a young Palestinian father, tying him up and sexually abusing him before stealing the family’s 400 sheep as well as wedding rings and other jewelry, cell phones, cash, and identification papers. The attack was covered in a New York Times article on March 18th. A more detailed description by Ms. Lang of the brutal attack is available here, and it was covered and confirmed in The Times of Israel.

Mughayer is an agricultural village in a mountainous area northeast of Ramallah and southeast of Nablus. It has suffered attacks from illegal settlers since at least 2009, when hundreds of its olive trees were cut. On May 18, Hilltop Youth  settlers, known for their violent extremism, built an illegal outpost 100 meters from the closest house in the village. As a result, 150 residents of the village were forced to leave their homes.

Orchard destroyed - Jamil and Motaz Nassan are American citizens from the Chicago area who own land in Mugheyer. For years, they have been dealing with violence from settlers seeking to drive them from land that has been in their family for generations. 140 olive trees that provided income for the family and the village have been cut down. The Times of Israel published an article on the vandalism in 2012, estimating that the loss for one season from oil that would have been produced was 8400 shekels, or about $2150.

The settler vandalism has destroyed the Nassans’ livelihood and sent the message that there is no future for their families in the land of their ancestors. The settlers come from an outpost called Adei Ad, and Jamil Nassan said one of them had fire-bombed his car several years ago.

Settler attacks on the village have continued in 2026. In January, settlers stormed grazing land and opened fire in the area, while constantly harassing residents. Between Feb 21–22, two Palestinians were shot and wounded during a settler raid on farmland; settlers stormed a compound, assaulted residents, and shot two people; and village families suffered property damage and attempted assaults. On March 3, 2026, a Palestinian man was seriously injured after being beaten by settlers near the village entrance. Around the same time, settlers reportedly blocked the village’s only entrance, removed flags, and attacked a shepherd. A day later, a 55-year-old man was beaten with a stick at a checkpoint set up by settlers, requiring medical treatment. A cousin of Chicago resident Motaz Nassan was detained for 24 hours at the checkpoint.

Mukhmas is a Palestinian village in the Jerusalem Governorate, located northeast of Jerusalem, in the center of the West Bank. Israelis have confiscated land in Mukhmas for its military bases, roads, and Israeli settlements, including  Sha'ar Binyamin and Ma'ale Mikhmas. It has been subject to attacks from violent Israeli settlers for years, and has seen hundreds of its olive trees burned and uprooted. An Israeli journalist has reported that Israeli security personnel have aided settlers in these attacks.

American killed - American killed - Nasrallah Abu Siyam, age 19, was a US citizen born in Philadelphia. He was killed by Israeli settlers in the village of Mukhmas (east of Ramallah) on Feb. 18, 2026, while he and other villagers were attempting to stop armed settlers from stealing their livestock. Nasrallah was shot during a confrontation where settlers threw rocks and later opened fire. He is the third American killed by settlers in less than a year. His family gave several moving statements at a press conference on March 6th, calling for a US government investigation and punishment for the perpetrators. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro sent a letter to the Department of Justice asking for an investigation into the killing. The Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed a resolution to honor Abu Siyam’s life and call for accountability. The young man has relatives in New Jersey as well as Pennsylvania who have been deeply affected by his death.

Qusra is a small village near Nablus in the northern West Bank. Over the years, the village has been repeatedly attacked by settlers. In 2011, they tried to set fire to the mosque, and in recent years they have killed a number of residents, even killing a father and son who were attending a funeral procession for another victim. For this reason, young activists from the US have tried to provide a protective presence, believing that settlers would be more reluctant to attack with Americans nearby. This is not the case.

American attacked - In July 2024, two young American people and a Palestinian were injured in an attack by illegal Israeli settlers in the town of Qusra as they were helping Palestinian families plow and plant their land. David Hummel lives in Berkeley, CA. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its medics transferred two Americans to the hospital after they were assaulted by illegal settlers. According to an article in CNN, “Three of the foreign victims, Vivi Chen, David Hummel, and Jedda, who declined to give her last name, spoke with CNN about the attack from the hospital where they were receiving treatment. They said they were accompanying Palestinian farmers to their olive fields, which they haven’t been able to access since October because of attacks by Israeli settlers.

Photos of David Hummel’s injuries are included in a detailed article by KQED News at https://www.kqed.org/news/12010352/apocalyptic-horror-movie-what-bay-area-volunteers-witnessed-gaza-west-bank.

At some point, the group was approached by several young settlers on a hill. ‘They sort of stood there for a while, and then they came up to our group of international volunteers, and they started hitting us with these thick wooden sticks almost like baseball bats,’ Chen said.” (See her interview on the incident here.)

The CNN article continues: “Videos recorded by the activists show them trying to retreat as they were attacked. One of them immediately falls to the ground, another tries to shield himself with his arms as he is struck, and at least one is kicked in the leg and hit with a rock hurled by an attacker. One woman fell down the hill and was also struck with a rock. The settlers then ‘smashed her phone and she lost her documents and cards,’ Chen told CNN. ‘We were doing nothing,’ Hummel said. ‘Our hands were up and we were backing up and trying to protect each other. So eventually, we tried to keep moving back because we had been hit so many times.”

Silwad is a town perched on a hill 860 meters above sea level, northeast of Ramallah, looking out over lush valleys. Its stone buildings and winding narrow streets are home for at least part of the year to 1,000 American citizens, according to the mayor. They come from Georgia, Indiana, Florida, and many other states.

American killed - Khamis Ayyad, a father of five and a former Chicago resident, was the second US citizen to be killed by settlers in the West Bank in July 2025. He died of smoke inhalation after settlers set fire to homes and vehicles in the town.

Ayyad was reportedly trying to extinguish the flames engulfing his brother’s car outside their house when he succumbed to the smoke. He raised his five children in Cicero, Illinois, and still has family in the area who are calling for the settlers to be held accountable. Pictures of Khamis with his family are available online, along with a recording of a press conference on his death.

Sinjil is a once beautiful town in the Palestinian hills northeast of Ramallah. Long known for its gardens and fig trees, it is now surrounded by five settlements, and much of its farmland has been severed from the village. Settler attacks are common, and families often feel under siege.

American killed - Saif (Sayfollah) Musallet of Tampa, Florida, was killed in the village of Sinjil on July 11, 2025. The 20-year-old American citizen was beaten to death by Israeli settlers while visiting his family's land in the Baten al-Hawa area of the village. According to eyewitnesses, he was beaten with clubs and kicked for three hours while an ambulance was prevented from reaching him. During part of that time, Israeli soldiers stood by and watched. When the ambulance was finally allowed through to collect his body, settlers smashed its windows with bats and threatened the driver.

Saif grew up in Charlotte County, FL, and worked at an ice cream shop in Tampa with his father. He still has family members in both places who are deeply affected by his loss. He was spending time during the summer visiting family members who live in the occupied West Bank. No one has ever been held accountable for this crime. See more on the attack and killing here.

Home vandalized, trees cut - Dr. Nida Sahouri Ali is a clinical pharmacist in the Chicago area and an American citizen. She and her husband own a house in Sinjil, which belonged to his parents. Trees throughout the village have been destroyed by illegal settlers. All the family’s trees have been cut, including 18 olive trees, 2 lemon trees, apricot, fig, and berry trees.

Israelis have built a wall and fence around the village two stories high, which cuts right by the Ali family’s house and across the driveway, blocking any entrance to the property by car. To reach the house now, the family has to travel over the hills and come down the side of a mountain by foot. As a result, their home has effectively been taken from them. The siege of the village is blocking commerce and travel for all the villagers.

The only two entrances to the village can be closed at any time, often leaving families waiting at the checkpoints to get home or to school, doctor appointments, etc. 

Israeli soldiers occupied the family’s home for a time and destroyed everything inside the house. They threw food and possessions all over the ground. According to Dr. Ali, this was done with no provocation on the family’s part. The house was damaged simply because it belonged to Palestinians. More information on settler violence against Sinjil is in a film by the Israeli human rights organization B’tselem.

The town of Tayasir is in the northeastern part of the West Bank. A settlement established there is illegal, even according to Israel, but it is defended by Israeli soldiers who ignore their attacks on local residents.

American reporter attacked - Israeli soldiers attacked a CNN crew on March 27, 2026, while they were there to report on the settler violence. US Citizens, including Jeremy Diamond, were among the crew who were assaulted and later detained by Israeli soldiers, who often arrest the victims of settler violence. The attacks, revealing comments of the soldiers about taking over the West Bank, and the statement from Jeremy Diamond can be viewed here.

Taybeh is the last remaining all-Christian town in the West Bank. It is an ancient village dating from the time of Christ, the place where Jesus went to rest shortly before his passion (John 11:54).  Taybeh has about 1,500 inhabitants, including US citizens, and three churches. It is located 30 km north of Jerusalem and east of Ramallah and is built around the ruins of the 5th Century Cathedral of St George, where continuous services have been held for hundreds of years. It is also famous for its brewery and winery which exports to the US and other countries. The brewery founders, the Khoury family, are US citizens, as are many inhabitants of the town. The village of Taybeh has been attacked repeatedly by illegal settlers seeking to drive Christians from the area. Many of the town’s residents have moved to the US but still have property and families in the area who are affected.

Fires set - In early July 2025, a group of Jewish settlers set fires near the Byzantine Christian cemetery and at the Church of Al-Khader (St. George), dating back to the 5th century and one of the oldest and most venerated places of worship for Christians in Palestine. These arson attacks follow a series of violent acts against the town’s Christian residents. The settlers have also damaged olive groves, Taybeh’s primary source of income, and are preventing farmers from accessing and working their land.

Homes and cars burned - On July 28, 2025, settlers returned to Taybeh, attempting to break into homes and setting fire to cars. 

Horses stolen - On the afternoon of February 28, 2026, a group of settlers entered the town, threw stones at homes, and blocked roads. The settlers trespassed on land belonging to the Khouryeh family and stole a horse and a foal valued at $10,000 from the property. Two brothers of the horse owners are US citizens. According to local accounts and the Latin parish priest, the Israeli army and police arrived at the scene but, instead of stopping the theft, provided protection for the settlers and escorted them out of the village with the stolen animals.

Factory and quarry seized - Father Bashar Fawadleh issued an urgent appeal on Saturday, March 21, telling news agencies that more private lands belonging to the people of Taybeh had been seized that week by Israeli settlers. He also reported that Israeli settlers have seized areas near the village’s quarry and cement factory. The quarry has been owned for 20 years by Taybeh resident Roland Bassir. Now that Israeli settlers have taken control of the area, they have threatened him with violence if he comes to work in the quarry. It is the only source of livelihood for Bassir, his brother and their families. Witnesses said the settlers had raised an Israeli flag on top of the cement factory. 

American family’s livelihood ruined - The Khoury family of Boston, who are dual US and Palestinian citizens, own a brewery in Taybeh, which has drawn tourists to the Holy Land for years. An Octoberfest each year was a special attraction. The settler attacks and military barriers have effectively stopped tourism to the town, affecting the family’s livelihood. Long lines at checkpoints and closures make it difficult to get the family’s beer, wines, and olive oil to market.

Turmus Ayya is a beautiful town in the countryside about 25 miles north of Jerusalem. 85% of Turmus Ayya's population are Palestinian American citizens. Every summer, these dual nationals return to visit their families and maintain ties with their native land. Many Americans have built beautiful homes in the area, and a number have been vandalized or destroyed by illegal settlers.

American’s village attacked during visit - Rep Abdelnasser Rashid was born in Chicago. He is Illinois’ first Palestinian American elected to the Illinois state legislature. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. His family is from Turmus Ayya in the West Bank. In June 2023, Rashid was visiting family there with his wife and three children when a violent mob of settlers descended on the town, firing guns and frightening residents. Rashid said he was inside his childhood home at the time of the attack. "I didn't know whether we were going to be killed," Rashid told a reporter. "My daughter, 7 years old, was clinging to me, saying, 'Dad, what do we do if we get shot?'" One Palestinian was killed and a dozen others were injured, with approximately 30 houses and 60 cars set on fire.

American reporter attacked - In October 2025, American journalist Jasper Nathaniel, was chased and attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank for recording an incident of Israeli settler violence on an elderly Palestinian woman. Nathaniel says the U.S. Embassy refused to help him. Video of the encounter is here.

American’s car smashed - Yaser Alkam is an American citizen who was in Turmas Ayya during the incident described above. Here is his account to The Hill, a publication based in Washington, DC: “It was Oct. 19, the first day of the olive harvest in Turmas Ayya in the occupied West Bank. I was driving back from my olive grove toward town, when 10 or more Israeli settlers swarmed my car, smashing it with rocks and clubs. I heard the back windshield shatter as I tried to drive away. ‘Today is the day we die,’ I thought.

One settler, with his face covered by a black scarf, wielding a wooden club, ran past my passenger window towards an older woman on the side of the road. He swung the club down on her head, and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious. He struck her on the head again and again. He then ran with his club raised towards two European activists who were there to try to support us during what has become an annual surge in settler attacks during harvest season.

I continued to drive as people fled the settlers in every direction. After making it home, I couldn’t shake the image of the settler hitting the woman. I later learned that she was taken to hospital and spent four days in intensive care.”

Another American’s home attacked, car burned - Sam Aziz is an American citizen who lives in Dallas, TX. He has shared an incident of Israeli settler violence that he experienced while visiting the West Bank in the summer of 2023:

“During the visit, my family, a few cousins and I were staying at my grandpa’s house in a village called Tormos Ayya (sic). During one of the afternoons, a cousin of mine, noticed a mob of Israeli settlers that was throwing rocks and setting cars on fire not far from my grandpa’s house. I quickly barred the door to my grandpa’s house, and everyone in the house, including my wife, kids and cousins, went to the basement of the house and we also barred the door leading to the basement.

We huddled in the basement for a while, all the while hearing rocks being thrown at the house, shots being fired, expecting that at any minute the mob would gain entry into the house and the basement. I held a broom in my hand, as I wanted anything at-hand with which I could defend myself and family. Out of one of the basement windows, we started seeing black smoke billowing above our house. We realized the Israeli settler mob was trying to burn the house, with us in it.

We started discussing escaping. I approached a window. I decided I would be the first to exit. I knew that it was a risk, given this Israeli settler mob was armed, but I was at peace with my decision. If I get shot, at least my family can remain inside the house and hope for safety. Luckily, no one attacked me after exiting. I quickly ushered the rest of my family to exit through the window, one by one, and we navigated through the backyards of several houses to escape.

I eventually went back to the house after the violence of the Israeli settlers subsided. I witnessed so much destruction. My car was aflame and burning into a husk. The windows of the first floor of the house were shattered. It took us weeks of cleaning until all the shards of glass were removed, some of which made it into our feet for the duration of our stay. There were scorch marks on the walls of the balcony. The settlers apparently ignited a couch that was in the balcony and near a window into the living room. Some village men were able to extract the couch before it led to a larger inferno.”