The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) held a press conference Monday, calling on the U.S. government to condemn the killing of a Tampa resident by illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Sayfollah “Saif” Musallet, a 20-year-old American citizen, was killed Friday in the town of Sinjil while visiting relatives, according to a statement from his family. He was scheduled to return to Tampa over the weekend.

His family said he was attempting to defend their land from settlers who beat him and then blocked paramedics from reaching him for over three hours. Musallet died on the way to the hospital after his brother retrieved him.

"One of your residents, an American who lived in Tampa and worked in Tampa, was brutally beat to death," said CAIR-Florida Deputy Executive Director Hiba Rahim. "We call on you to publicly condemn this murder. Condemn Sayfollah's tragic death."

At the press conference, Musallet’s uncle, Hussam Mosallet, described his nephew as a "very loving, caring" young man.

"Everybody who ever met him just fell in love with him. He was so lovely, respectful, and to be taken the way he was murdered, by illegal Israeli settlers," Mosallet said. "And then the IDF just stands there and watches him, they give them [the settlers] the way to go in there and do whatever they want? Nobody says anything to them.

"What can I say? He's just gonna be missed and loved."

CAIR-Florida Communications Director Wilfredo Ruiz told reporters the issue goes beyond one family’s tragedy.

"This is about whether the U.S. government is keen on protecting its citizens abroad or not," he said. "Or perhaps some citizens and some not? Or perhaps is prioritizing non-citizens over our own citizens?"

Rahim urging U.S. leaders to "take the path of moral consciousness."

"Make a public statement, be brave… stand in solidarity with the grieving family and the Muslim community," she said.

Five Americans have been killed in the West Bank since the Gaza war began

Sayfollah Musallet is the fifth American citizen killed in the West Bank by Israelis since the Gaza war began in October 2023.

His death follows a series of killings: 17-year-old Tawfic Abdel Jabbar in January 2024; 17-year-old Mohammad Alkhdour in February 2024; 26-year-old Turkish-American citizen Aysenur Eygi in September 2024; and 14-year-old Amer Rabee on April 6, 2025.