US Wants Probe Into Death of Palestinian-American Man, 80, After IDF Detention

The US State Department has called for an investigation into the death of an 80-year-old Palestinian man who held American citizenship after he was detained by Israeli soldiers during a raid on a West Bank village. Omar Abdalmajeed As’ad was found dead early on Wednesday morning in a village outside of Ramallah and reportedly was still wearing on one of his wrists the zip tie used to handcuff him.

The IDF told Reuters that As’ad resisted inspection at a security checkpoint and was detained for a brief time, and that he was alive at the time of his release.  As’ad had a history of cardiac and respiratory illness, his family told reporters.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said US officials had requested “clarification” from Israel regarding As’ad’s death and that the department supports a “thorough investigation into the circumstances.” The IDF announced that it would investigate the incident in a “thorough and professional manner.”

As’ad lived for much of his adult life in Milwaukee and moved back to the West Bank about a decade ago, The Washington Post reported, citing to his family.