A United States citizen died in the West Bank Thursday, according to reports confirmed by the United States State Department.
Khamis Abdul Latif Ayyad, 41, died from smoke inhalation as a result of fires started by Israeli settlers who targeted cars and homes in his village late at night, according to the Miami Herald and a Palestinian news publication.
The Palestinian Khamis Ayad (45) died of asphyxiation of tear gas fire by the Israeli occupation forces inside his house during the attack of settlers on the village of Silwad east of Ramallah, pre dawn today. pic.twitter.com/HlCJpfpt7Z
— Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) July 31, 2025
“We can confirm the death of a U.S. citizen in the town of Silwad in the West Bank. We offer condolences to the family on their loss and are providing consular assistance to them. We condemn criminal violence by any party in the West Bank,” a State Department spokesperson told the outlet.
According to Ayyad’s family, the fire was ignited by Israeli settlers who entered Silwad — a village located near several Israeli settlements in the central part of the West Bank — during the night and set both cars and homes on fire, the outlet noted. (RELATED: REPORT: Settlers Allegedly Vandalize, Attack Palestinian Christian Village)
A funeral for Ayyad was held Friday, and his family is awaiting an autopsy to determine his official cause of death, the outlet added.
Ayyad is the second U.S. citizen to be killed in the West Bank. Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old Palestinian American, died July 11 after Israeli settlers beat him to death during violent outbreaks in the area. The violence began when “terrorists hurled rocks” at Israelis, causing minor injuries to two people, and then escalated into property damage, arson, physical confrontations, and further rock throwing, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) told Jewish News. Musallet sustained injuries during the conflict, but was left without medical care for two hours because settlers blocked access for emergency responders, a friend told The Washington Post.
Ayyad was raised in Silwad, a small village in the West Bank, but relocated to the United States with his wife in 2008. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, he and his family returned to the West Bank, according to the outlet.
Ayyad’s brother described him as a hardworking family man who was liked in his community.
“He was loved by everyone. He caused no problems at all,” his brother told the outlet.
Ayyad leaves behind his wife and 5 children aged 6-15, according to the outlet.
