In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, mourners gathered Saturday for the funeral of Tawfiq Ajaq, a 17-year-old American Palestinian shot and killed a day earlier near the city of Ramallah. The circumstances of the shooting remained unclear Saturday, and police said the incident was under investigation.
Quick Read
- Funeral of Tawfiq Ajaq: Mourners in the West Bank gathered for the funeral of Tawfiq Ajaq, a 17-year-old American Palestinian, shot near Ramallah.
- Unclear Circumstances: The exact circumstances of the shooting are still unclear and under investigation by Israeli police.
- Police Report: Israeli police reported a firearm discharge involving an off-duty officer, a soldier, and a civilian during an incident with people throwing rocks.
- Father’s Reaction: Ajaq’s father, Hafez, criticized the U.S. for supporting Israel with military aid, referring to Israeli forces as “killer machines.”
- U.S. Response: U.S. national security spokesman John Kirby expressed serious concern and acknowledged a lack of full context about the incident.
- Biden Administration’s Concerns: The U.S. has repeatedly voiced concerns about increasing volatility in the West Bank, including settler violence against Palestinians.
The Associated Press has the story:
A funeral held to a 17-year-old American Palestinian killed by Israel in W. Bank
Newslooks- RAMALLAH- West Bank (AP)
In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, mourners gathered Saturday for the funeral of Tawfiq Ajaq, a 17-year-old American Palestinian shot and killed a day earlier near the city of Ramallah.
The circumstances of the shooting remained unclear Saturday, and police said the incident was under investigation.
Israeli police said they received a report Friday regarding a “firearm discharge, ostensibly involving an off-duty law enforcement officer, a soldier and a civilian.” They did not identify who fired, but described the shooting as taking place over people “purportedly engaged in rock-throwing ” along a highway.
The teen’s father, Hafez Ajaq, said his son was born and raised in the United States and had been living in the family’s home village in the West Bank for the past year. Ajaq expressed anger at the U.S. government, which has provided diplomatic and military support for Israel in its war against Hamas.
“They are killer machines,” he said, referring to Israeli forces. “They are using our tax dollars in the U.S. to support the weapons to kill our own children.”
Asked about the shooting, U.S. national security spokesman John Kirby said officials at the White House were “seriously concerned about these reports.”
“We don’t have perfect context about exactly what happened here,” Kirby said. “And we’re going to be in constant touch with counterparts in the region to — to get more information.”
In recent months, the Biden administration has repeatedly expressed concern about growing volatility in the West Bank, including violence by settlers against Palestinians.
