WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday asked Israel to launch an urgent probe into the death of a 17-year-old Palestinian-American killed by alleged Israeli fire in the West Bank last week, Western media reported.
Tawfiq Ajaq was killed in the town of Al-Mazraa Al-Sharqiya, east of Ramallah on Friday, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa and relatives of the young man.
State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters that the US continues to engage closely with the government of Israel to ascertain information about the incident and called for an urgent investigation to determine the circumstances of his death.
Patel said he was devastated by the teenager’s death who was, a US citizen, and reiterated a call for de-escalation.
He went on to say the United States has been clear over the tragic escalation in violence in the West Bank, asking all parties to avoid escalations.
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Patel said both the US Office of Palestinian Affairs and the US Embassy in Jerusalem have been in contact with the family of the teenager.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and its forces regularly carry out incursions into Palestinian communities.
The raids have increased since the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza started on October 7, increasingly lasting days and accompanied by air strikes.
According to the Palestinian health ministry, Israeli troops and settlers have killed more than 360 people in the West Bank so far.
