CAIR-Chicago Demands DOJ Probe into Killing of US Citizen in West Bank Settler Attack

A father of five with Chicago ties dies in an alleged settler arson as rights groups cite rising violence and call for US accountability.

Palestinian-American Khamis Ayyad, a 40-year-old father of five and former Chicago resident, died in Silwad, a town northeast of Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. CAIR-Chicago, the regional chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, has called on the US Department of Justice to launch an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ayyad’s death, which occurred during a settler arson attack in the early hours of the morning. Family members and local witnesses say Israeli settlers set cars ablaze outside Ayyad’s home; when he tried to extinguish the flames, Israeli forces reportedly deployed tear gas, prompting smoke inhalation that, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, led to Ayyad’s death.

“We demand a complete investigation from the Department of Justice,” said William Asfour, CAIR-Chicago chapter coordinator, standing alongside Ayyad’s grieving family in Chicago. “An American citizen has been killed. Where is the accountability?” Asfour's remarks, first reported by Al Jazeera, echo the fears of Ayyad’s relatives and many in Chicago’s Palestinian-American community who have long warned that Israeli settler violence is escalating with impunity.

A Pattern of Rising Violence

Ayyad’s killing marks the second death of a US citizen in the West Bank attributed to Israeli settlers within one month. In July, 20-year-old Sayf Musallet was also attacked and killed in Sinjil, a nearby town. So far, no arrests have been made in his case, despite public calls for a US-led investigation by both families.

The attack on Ayyad’s neighborhood is part of a broader surge in violence across the West Bank. Data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicates at least 159 Palestinians—including US citizens—have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank since the start of 2025. In the single week between July 15 and 21, the UN documented 27 incidents of settler violence resulting in injuries or property destruction.

Rights groups argue that the growing frequency of these attacks is “part of a troubling trend of settler colonial violence in Palestine,” said Illinois State Representative Nabeela Rashid. She advocated before reporters for repealing an Illinois state law penalizing companies that boycott Israeli products, arguing, “this disgraceful state law aids in shielding Israel’s violence and brutality from facing consequences”.

Arson Attack and Fatal Consequences

According to eyewitness accounts, the attack on Ayyad’s neighborhood began around 2 a.m., when settlers targeted several cars with petrol bombs and set them on fire. Mahmoud Issa, Ayyad’s cousin, told Al Jazeera that Khamis rushed to put out the blaze before Israeli army units arrived and began firing tear gas at local Palestinians.

Ayyad reportedly succumbed to the effects of heavy smoke inhalation and tear gas exposure while helping contain the fire. The Israeli military confirmed to multiple outlets that settlers were responsible for starting the fires, but said troops “dispatched to the location were unable to identify those responsible.” They added that Israeli police have launched their investigation.

“The residents were alarmed and hurried to extinguish the fires that were engulfing the cars and structures,” a local relative in Silwad told Al Jazeera, describing widespread panic.

U.S. Calls for Accountability—But Action Remains Elusive

The killing has caused outrage among Palestinian-Americans and civil rights advocates in the United States, who point to a lack of accountability for American deaths abroad. Since 2022, at least 10 US citizens, including Ayyad and Musallet, have died as a result of actions by Israeli soldiers or settlers in the occupied West Bank, according to human rights monitors; none of these incidents has resulted in criminal charges or US-led investigations.

“How many more must die before the US takes steps to safeguard its citizens abroad?” said Asfour of CAIR-Chicago in his remarks, referencing both Ayyad and Musallet.

The US Department of State had not responded to requests for comment as of Friday, according to Al Jazeera, though previous incidents have drawn calls for investigation from embassy officials. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee publicly stated after Musallet’s death, “There must be accountability for this criminal and terrorist act.” Still, families and allies say US policy relies on Israeli authorities to conduct investigations, despite concerns about bias and a pattern of insufficient accountability.

Broader Context

The attack on Ayyad’s community comes at a moment of heightened violence across the West Bank and Gaza. Illegal Israeli settlements, unauthorized by both international and Israeli law, have expanded into Palestinian communities. Reports indicate settlers, often armed and accompanied by the Israeli military, frequently attack Palestinian homes, torch cars and buildings, and intimidate civilians without fear of prosecution.

In recent months, Israeli forces have stepped up lethal raids and mass home demolitions in the West Bank. The Israeli Knesset recently adopted a non-binding resolution supporting the formal annexation of the territory, and government ministers have described the situation as a “moment of opportunity” to assert further control, as reported by the Times of Israel and other outlets.

Observers warn that this climate fuels a rise in vigilante attacks. In one case earlier this year, a prominent Palestinian activist was killed by another Israeli settler, though, after initial detention, the alleged assailant was placed under house arrest rather than held in custody.

Civil Rights Groups Amplify Pressure

CAIR-Chicago and other advocacy organizations say Ayyad’s death exposes broader risks for American citizens in conflict zones. The groups insist that Washington has a responsibility to protect its nationals and ensure impartial investigations, especially where the host government has a record of failing to hold perpetrators accountable.

CAIR's national office, quoting William Asfour, stated on the social media platform X, “Here at CAIR-Chicago, we demand that the Department of Justice investigates the killing of a U.S. citizen abroad”. Family members, contacted via Chicago-area organizers, expressed deep frustration: “Settlers are burning homes, soldiers support them, and our government sends billions to fund these actions,” said one spokesperson, referencing continued US military aid to Israel.

A Community Grieves and Demands Justice

In Chicago, Ayyad’s extended family and friends, along with civil rights leaders, convened a vigil and press conference to honor his memory and call for political action. Ayyad’s relatives described him as a devoted father and hardworking member of the city’s Palestinian-origin community, active in both civic and religious life.

“Khamis was the provider and heart of this family. His death is not just a loss to us, but to the entire Palestinian-American community,” a family member said at a candlelight gathering, as relayed by local outlets.

Their pain is compounded by fears for the safety of other American citizens in the region, including 16-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim—currently detained in Israel without trial or family contact, as advocacy groups reported last week.

Escalating Losses and Policy Implications

The ongoing violence in the West Bank has displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians, with casualty and incident rates sharply rising since the start of Israel’s latest Gaza campaign in October 2023. According to the UN and multiple human rights groups, settler assaults, property destruction, and fatalities have reached levels not seen in years.

This pattern of abuse, say rights groups and some US lawmakers, underscores the urgency for decisive political and diplomatic intervention. As Illinois Assemblymember Rashid pointed out, local and state laws that penalize those protesting or boycotting Israeli policies complicate efforts to hold perpetrators accountable and address systemic failings.

Will Washington Act?

CAIR-Chicago’s call for a federal investigation has amplified pressure on the Biden administration and lawmakers to clarify how the US protects its citizens abroad and responds to extrajudicial killings. As groups demand greater transparency and action, Ayyad's family, like others before them, waits for evidence that US citizenship entails real recourse and accountability beyond diplomatic statements.

While the Israeli police have reportedly opened an investigation, skepticism remains high among advocates and victims’ families, who point to a long record of cases closed without arrest or meaningful consequence. The outcome of CAIR-Chicago’s campaign may set a precedent for future responses to attacks on US citizens in conflict zones and shape the evolving relationship between civil rights groups, policymakers, and communities affected by the ongoing crisis in the West Bank.

For now, the communities mourning Khamis Ayyad—and so many others—continue to hold rallies, pursue legal avenues, and urge US leaders: “How many more must die before basic protection and justice are guaranteed?”