Abandoned by the US: Palestinian Americans trapped in a surge of Israeli settler violence
After visits by US ambassador Mike Huckabee to the nearby Israeli settlement of Shilo, Palestinian Americans in Turmus Ayya have witnessed a terrifying rise in attacks
TL;DR
- Palestinian Americans in Turmus Ayya are facing escalating violence and intimidation from Israeli settlers.
- Settlers have established illegal outposts on Palestinian farmland and conduct night raids, intimidating villagers with gunfire and property damage.
- U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee has visited nearby Israeli settlements, which residents feel emboldens settlers and demonstrates a lack of U.S. support for them.
- Several Palestinian Americans have been killed or attacked by settlers or the Israeli military since 2022, with limited consular assistance from the U.S.
- Residents express a feeling of being abandoned by the U.S. government, particularly as some settlers attacking them may also be U.S. citizens.
- The violence has led to increased fear, reliance on self-protection measures, and a changed daily life for the residents.
- Despite condemnation of violence by the State Department, residents feel their concerns are not being adequately addressed.