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The Jerusalem Post

US 'devastated' by death of citizen in West Bank, seeks probe

 
 Mourners react during the funeral of American-Palestinian Tawfiq Ajjaq, 17, who according to Palestinian officials was killed by the Israeli security forces, near Ramallah in the West Bank, January 20, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman)
Mourners react during the funeral of American-Palestinian Tawfiq Ajjaq, 17, who according to Palestinian officials was killed by the Israeli security forces, near Ramallah in the West Bank, January 20, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman)

Tawfic Abdel Jabbar's uncle told Reuters he died during clashes with the Israeli military that included stone-throwing by Palestinians.

The United States on Monday called for an investigation and for accountability "as appropriate" following the West Bank death of a 17-year-old Palestinian American, who Palestinian health officials say was killed by Israeli security forces.

Speaking at a regular briefing, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said the United States had called for an urgent investigation in to the death of Tawfic Abdel Jabbar on Friday.

Palestinian health officials said the American-born youth was killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank. His uncle told Reuters he died during clashes with the Israeli military that included stone-throwing by Palestinians.

Calls for an investigation into the death

"We are devastated about the killing of 17-year-old US citizen Tawfic Abdel Jabbar in the West Bank," Patel told reporters, saying the United States was working with Israel to get information about his death.

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 A military vehicle is stationed in front of a hospital during an Israeli raid, in Tulkarm, in the West Bank, January 17, 2024 (credit: REUTERS/ALI SAWAFTA)
A military vehicle is stationed in front of a hospital during an Israeli raid, in Tulkarm, in the West Bank, January 17, 2024 (credit: REUTERS/ALI SAWAFTA)

"We have called for an urgent investigation to determine the circumstances of his death and accountability ... as appropriate," he added.

Among territories where Palestinians seek statehood, the West Bank has seen a surge of violence in parallel to the Gaza war that erupted on Oct. 7 with a shock cross-border killing and kidnapping spree by Islamist Hamas terrorists in southern Israel.

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