A Muslim American group has despatched a letter to the administration of President Donald Trump urging it to research the loss of life of United States citizen Khamis Ayyad in a settler assault within the occupied West Financial institution.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) mentioned Ayyad’s household has “no confidence in any investigation carried out by Israeli authorities”.
The letter, penned by CAIR and its Chicago chapter, was despatched on Wednesday, virtually per week after Ayyad’s loss of life on July 31.
Addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi, it underscored authorized provisions, together with the US-Israel Mutual Authorized Help Treaty (MLAT), that will allow Washington to research Ayyad’s loss of life.
“The Division of Justice has beforehand relied on these very statutes to research the October 7, 2023, Hamas assaults in Israel, which killed a number of Individuals. But it has failed to use them when the perpetrators are Israeli,” the letter learn.
“This double normal is indefensible and is a CLEAR act of discrimination. American citizenship should not be selectively protected primarily based on the id or political alliances of the killer.”
Ayyad, a Chicago space resident and father of 5, was one in all two US residents killed in settler attacks within the West Financial institution in July.
In response to Ayyad’s household, settlers torched automobiles exterior his residence within the city of Silwad, north of Ramallah, final week.
Ayyad woke as much as put out the hearth, however then the Israeli military confirmed up on the scene and began firing tear gasoline in his course.
The household believes that Ayyad died from inhaling tear gasoline and smoke from the burning automobiles.
Earlier in July, Israeli settlers additionally beat to loss of life 20-year-old Sayfollah Musallet, a Florida native, close to the West Financial institution village of Sinjil.
The US authorities has acknowledged Ayyad’s loss of life however stopped wanting denouncing it and even calling for an investigation.
“We are able to verify the loss of life of a US citizen within the city of Silwad within the West Financial institution,” a US State Division spokesperson advised Al Jazeera final week.
“We provide condolences to the household on their loss and are offering consular help to them. We condemn legal violence by any social gathering within the West Financial institution.”
In response to CAIR, US officers haven’t reached out to Ayyad’s household.
William Asfour, the operations coordinator for CAIR-Chicago, mentioned the State Division’s assertion exhibits that “Palestinian lives usually are not valued” by the US authorities.
“This assertion from the State Division appears extra like formalities than any precise concern,” Asfour advised Al Jazeera. “We need to see direct motion. Holding the terrorist settlers accountable is a step in the correct course.”
After Israeli troopers or settlers kill Americans, the US often calls on Israel to investigate.
However Israel hardly ever prosecutes anybody for abuses in opposition to Palestinians. Rights advocates have lengthy argued that Israel just isn’t outfitted to research its personal crimes.
For instance, no prices have been introduced within the case of Musallet’s fatal beating practically one month later.
The CAIR letter harassed that Israel has a “well-documented and deeply troubling historical past of distorting information, fabricating narratives, and systematically exonerating its troopers and unlawful settlers”.
Since 2022, Israeli troopers and settlers have killed no less than 10 US residents. Not one of the instances have resulted in legal prices.
“The homicide of Khamis Ayyad should mark a turning level. The time to cease hiding behind authorized technicalities and political comfort is now. Inaction is complicity,” the CAIR letter mentioned.
On Monday, Congressman Chuy Garcia, who represents a district within the Chicago space, additionally known as for the US to launch its personal probe into Ayyad’s loss of life.
“I be part of his household in urging a full US investigation into the incident and demand the accountability of these concerned,” Garcia wrote in a social media post.