Father Blames US Support for Palestinian-American Teen’s West Bank Killing

Hafiz Abdel Jabbar, the father of Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, a Palestinian-American teenager, has held the United States partly responsible for his son’s death due to its longstanding military support to Israel. Tawfic, born in Gretna, Louisiana, and residing in the West Bank since May 2023, was killed during an incident near Al-Mazra’a ash-Sharqiya, approximately 10 miles north of Ramallah.

According to Hafiz, his son was heading to a family farm picnic when he encountered settlers and Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. An eyewitness reported that the IDF soldiers started shooting at them, leading to Tawfic’s death from two gunshot wounds to the head and chest. His body was discovered in the car. Although initial reports stated Tawfic was taken to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah in critical condition, he later succumbed to his injuries.

Expressing his anguish to CNN, Hafiz Abdel Jabbar, who holds dual U.S. citizenship, lamented that his son was essentially killed by bullets funded by their own government, indicating the U.S.’s support for Israel. The incident is under police investigation.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported that since the outbreak of violence on October 7, over 360 Palestinians have been fatally wounded by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank.