The US Department of State has voiced on Wednesday evening its support for “an investigation into the death of an elderly Palestinian American man who his family and local officials said was detained by Israeli soldiers during a raid on an occupied West Bank village.”
The 80-year-old man Omar Abdel-Majid Asaad from the village of Jaljalia north of Ramallah breathed his last after being severely attacked and beaten by Israeli soldiers during his arrest.
“We can confirm the death of the US citizen Omar Assad in a city near Ramallah. We have been in touch with Mr. Assad’s family to express our condolences about this tragedy. We are providing as you would expect all appropriate consular assistance to the family at this time” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.
“We’ve also been in touch with the government of Israel to seek clarification about this incident. And as you may have seen the Israeli Defense Forces have indicated there is an ongoing investigation into the matter” Price continued. “We support a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this incident. Of course out of respect for the family during this time we have little more that we’re able to offer.”
Palestinian sources affirmed that the martyr was savagely attacked by the IOF soldiers without taking into account his health condition and old age.
He was arrested from his house and severely beaten he was then left blindfolded and handcuffed for a long period of time till breathing his last the sources added.
