DAYS OF PALESTINE – WEST BANK
Omar Abdalmajeed As’ad, Palestinian American man died Wednesday after being cuffed, abused and detained by Israeli occupation forces in the occupied West Bank, prompting U.S. officials to call for an investigation into the circumstances of his death.
The victim, As’ad, was returning home from visiting relatives when the Israeli occupation forces stopped him in Jaljulya village, according to a statement by the Palestinian health ministry. Witnesses told Palestinian media that he was handcuffed and led away about 3 a.m. Wednesday.
As’ad was later found unresponsive by a resident walking in the neighborhood. Photographs circulating on social media showed a black plastic tie around at least one of his wrists.
“He was lying face down on the ground, and when we turned him over we found an elderly man with no sign of life,” the resident, Mamdouh Elaboud, told Reuters.
After a local physician tried unsuccessfully to revive As’ad, he was taken to a Ramallah hospital where his body was being held until an autopsy can be performed.
As’ad had a history of cardiac and respiratory illness, according to his family.
“I don’t understand how a man that age can be considered a danger,” a brother of the victim told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. “They handcuffed him and shoved him. I have no doubt what he went through caused his death.”
As’ad had spent much of his adult life in Milwaukee and had moved back to the West Bank about a decade ago, according to his family.
U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said U.S. officials had requested “clarification” from the Israeli occupation of the events surrounding As’ad’s death.
“We support a thorough investigation into the circumstances,” Price told reporters.
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