Hundreds of people gathered in mourning on Monday in the West Bank village of Turmus Ayya for the funeral of 14-year-old Amer Rabee, a U.S. citizen who was fatally shot by Israeli forces the previous day.
The boy’s death has sparked outrage, especially among Palestinian-American communities, and is drawing attention to how the U.S. is handling such incidents during a time of intense conflict in the region.
Who Was Amer Rabee?
Amer Rabee was a former resident of Saddle Brook, New Jersey. According to his family, he was picking green almonds with two friends when he was shot multiple times by Israeli soldiers.
His father, Mohammed Rabee, said it was nothing less than a “field execution.” Speaking to CBS News, he accused the Trump administration of ignoring the killing, especially while President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the same day.
“Stop sending weapons to kill,” Rabee pleaded.
Israeli Government’s Response
The Israeli government released a statement saying that three “terrorists” were shot after allegedly throwing rocks at a highway, which they said posed a threat to civilians. The Israeli military also released video footage of the incident, though it is grainy and does not clearly show who the individuals are or what they were doing.
Another American Teen Injured
Another U.S. citizen, 15-year-old Ayoub Jabara, was also wounded in the same incident and taken to a hospital in Ramallah, according to Turmus Ayya Mayor Lafi Shalabi, as reported by The Washington Post.
U.S. Politicians and Public Reaction
Many in the U.S. have voiced anger over the incident. Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey wrote:
“How can the Israeli military possibly justify shooting and killing an American teenager in cold blood?”
So far, the U.S. State Department has declined to comment, citing the family’s privacy. There has been no official statement from the White House about this specific shooting.
Previous Deaths of U.S. Citizens
Amer Rabee’s killing is not the first such tragedy. Other U.S. citizens killed in recent months include:
- Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, killed in January
- Mohammad Ahmad Alkhdour, shot the following month
- Aysenur Eygi, a Turkish-American activist, killed last September in the West Bank
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had various explanations for these deaths, but eyewitnesses and reports often contradict official claims.
Palestinian-Americans Feeling “Abandoned”
The death of Amer Rabee comes as many Palestinian-Americans say they feel ignored or abandoned by the U.S. government. This includes Americans stranded in Gaza, where Israeli military operations—often using U.S.-supplied weapons—have caused heavy damage, especially in Rafah.
Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its operations into the West Bank, even sending in tanks—something not seen in decades. Thousands of Palestinians have been displaced due to the fighting.
Trump’s Recent Remarks
President Trump said Monday that the U.S. is “looking at another ceasefire” after Israel broke a previous agreement by launching strikes on Hamas.
At the same time, Trump has taken a strong stance against pro-Palestinian activism in the U.S., including deporting student and faculty protestors involved in pro-Gaza demonstrations at American universities.