Several U.S. lawmakers demand probe into Israeli forces’ killing of 80-year-old Palestinian American
Washington (QNN)- Several U.S. lawmakers have demanded a thorough investigation into the killing of the elderly Palestinian-American resident of the West Bank, Omar Abul-Majid As’ad, after being detained and brutally beaten by Israeli occupation forces during a military raid last week.
On January 12, the 80-year-old Palestinian-American Omar Abul-Majid As’ad died after being detained and brutally beaten by Israeli occupation forces who also blindfolded and handcuffed him during a nighttime military raid on the village of Jiljilyya, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
The elderly man died of a heart attack, as the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed in a statement.
Local residents explained that an Israeli occupation force raided the village of Jiljilyya after midnight and started assaulting all the Palestinian passers. As’ad was violently detained and beaten by the Israeli occupation soldiers when he was coming back home after visiting his relatives.
The occupation soldiers stopped his vehicle and pulled him out of it. They blindfolded and handcuffed him before starting to drag him on the ground and brutally beating him, leaving him in an under-construction building in the village of Jiljilyya.
The residents added that at about 4:30 AM, the Israeli occupation soldiers had left the village and As’ad was later found dead by a resident walking in the village near the building.
Photographs circulating on social media showed a black plastic tie around at least one of his wrists.
As’ad had a history of cardiac and respiratory illness, according to his family, who also said he had lived in Milwaukee for decades before returning to the occupied West Bank about 10 years ago.
Imagine an 80-year-old man being tied to the back and beaten to death by soldiers as young as his grandchildren…
1/2 pic.twitter.com/drQeKX3ixA— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) January 12, 2022
The United States has asked ‘Israel’ for a clarification and expressed its “condolences about this tragedy.”
Asked for comment on the matter during a daily press briefing last Wednesday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price began by confirming that the elderly Palestinian man was an American citizen.
“We have been in touch with Mr. As’ad’s family to express our condolences about this tragedy. We’re providing all of the consular assistance to the family at this time,” 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 that there’s an ongoing investigation into the matter.”
“We support a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this incident,” Price added.
At least five U.S. lawmakers have also demanded a probe into the killing of the elderly Palestinian-American man.
“Two days ago, Israeli troops stopped a car driven by 80-year-old Palestinian-American Omar Abdulmajeed Asaad. They dragged him from the car, beat him, and left him on the ground to die,” tweeted Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the first and lone Palestinian-American serving in Congress and was born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrant parents. “This is outrageous!” she added, calling on the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to investigate the incident.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who represents As’ad’s state of Wisconsin, called the incident a “horrible tragedy that demands a thorough investigation.” She extended her condolences to his family, “including those in Wisconsin who are mourning this tragic loss and deserve answers.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar also shared an Instagram Story regarding the incident, posting “Life taken under the cruelty of occupation. When will these victims get accountability?”
Rep. Debbie Dingell joined the call for a full and thorough investigation, calling the circumstances surrounding his death “gravely concerning.”
Rep. Betty McCollum, long one of Congress’ more outspoken critics of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, called As’ad “another victim of this cruel occupation.”
Rep. Marie Newman, the first-term lawmaker who has quickly fashioned herself into a leading advocate for Palestinians, said she was “deeply disturbed” and echoed the State Department’s support of an investigation into the incident.
His Congresswoman, Rep. Gwen Moore, also tweeted, “I’m saddened to learn of Omar Abdalmajeed As’ad’s death and send my deepest condolences to his family. We need an investigation to understand what led to this tragedy.”
