From the Liveblog of
Saturday, January 20, 2024
US ‘devastated’ over death of Palestinian-American teen in West Bank Friday
The US says it is “devastated” over the killing of a Palestinian-American teen yesterday in a reported clash with security forces in the West Bank.
“We call for an urgent investigation to determine the circumstances of his death,” the US Office for Palestinian Affairs says in a tweet.
The 17-year-old, Tawfiq Hafiz Ajaq, was according to reports hit in the head with live ammunition during a Friday evening incident in the West Bank town of Al-Mazra’a Al-Sharqiya, which according to Reuters included stone-throwing.
WAFA reported that Ajaq sustained critical injuries before being pronounced dead at the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah.
Jabbar was reportedly shot in an incident in which an off-duty policeman, a soldier and a civilian opened fire in circumstances under investigation.
According to AP, there was a pledge from Israeli authorities to investigate.
Ajaq was born and raised in Gretna, Louisiana, near New Orleans, relatives said. His parents brought him and his four siblings to the village of Al-Mazra’a Ash-Sharqiya in the West Bank last year so they could reconnect with Palestinian culture.
The teen was buried on Saturday.
During the funeral, Ajaq’s father criticized the long-standing US support for Israel. “They are using our tax dollars in the US to support the weapons to kill our own children,” he charged.
