By An American-Palestinian teenager lost his life in a tragic shooting incident in the West Bank, as reported by The Associated Press. The incident, which occurred in Al-Mazra’a Ash-Sharqiya, involved the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, a native of Louisiana, while he was driving a pickup truck. The sole passenger, 16-year-old Mohammed Salameh, recounted the events to AP, describing how their vehicle was hit by Israeli fire, causing it to overturn multiple times.
According to Salameh, they were driving on a dirt road near Highway 60 when shots struck the back of the truck, resulting in Abdel Jabbar’s death. Israeli police initially stated that the shooting targeted individuals suspected of engaging in rock-throwing activities, but Salameh denied these allegations, stating they were simply on a picnic outing.
Abdel Jabbar’s father, Hafeth, rejected claims that his son had engaged in any threatening behavior and demanded transparency in the investigation. The White House also urged for a thorough investigation into the incident. The family’s ancestral village was deeply shocked by the killing, as most residents hold American passports and have ties to the U.S.
Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, a high school senior studying remotely, had aspirations of attending college in the U.S. His family, deeply saddened by his tragic death, is seeking justice and accountability. They expressed frustration with the U.S. administration’s support for Israel and called for accountability for the use of American resources in the conflict.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with Palestinian health officials confirming the teenager’s identity as Tawfic Abdel Jabbar. The family, accompanied by Salameh, provided witness testimony to Israeli investigators. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for justice in the local community and beyond.
