Calls for U.S.-led Investigation and Urges Senator Murphy to Support Sanders Resolutions Blocking Arms Transfers
HARTFORD, CT— The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) organized an emotional and urgent meeting earlier today between the family of Sayfullah Musallat—a 20-year-old Palestinian-American citizen brutally killed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank—and Cole Bockenfeld, Senior Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Chris Murphy. The Senator is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the ranking Democratic member of the subcommittee on the Middle East and Counter-terrorism.
Sayfullah’s father, Kemal Musallat, joined the call from Ramallah and recounted the dreams and ambitions of his son, a young entrepreneur who had returned to Palestine to spend time with family and explore starting a new chapter in life. He was beaten to death during a settler attack, one of two Americans killed in the West Bank in recent months. A full copy of his statement can be found here: https://bit.ly/MussalatStatment
During the meeting, the family was informed that Senator Murphy has signed on to a letter led by Senator Chris Van Hollen, which calls for an independent U.S. investigation into Sayfullah’s killing and demands accountability for the deaths of seven American citizens in the West Bank since 2022. CAIR-CT and the Musallat family expressed appreciation for the Senator’s support of this letter.
In addition, the family and CAIR-CT urged Senator Murphy to publicly support two joint resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (S.J. Res. 42 and S.J. Res. 70) that would block the transfer of thousands of U.S.-made automatic rifles to Israeli police forces, which risk being used by armed settlers to commit further human rights violations.
“Sayfullah was a kind, ambitious young man who had just opened his first business,” said Mr. Musallat. “I can’t bring my son back, but I want to make sure no other parent has to bury their child because of this violence.”
The family was joined by members of Connecticut’s Palestinian-American community, including Yunus Bakr, who noted, “Our extended family comes from Al-Mazara’a ash-Sharqiya, the same village where Sayfullah was killed. Normally, I would bring my children to visit during the summer—but this year, it’s too dangerous. The settler violence is out of control and we fear for our safety.”
Immediate Asks to Senator Murphy:
1. A U.S.-led investigation under 18 U.S.C. § 1119 into Sayfullah’s killing, as Israeli authorities have consistently failed to investigate or hold settlers accountable.
2. Support for Sanders’s Senate Joint Resolutions:
a. S.J. Res. 42, prohibiting the sale of 3,200 DDM4 11.5″ and 2,000 MK18 10.3″ fully automatic rifles to Lavi BBG Ltd. for use by the Israel National Police.
b. S.J. Res. 70, prohibiting the sale of 5,000 M5 Commando 5.56mm fully automatic rifles to M.R.D. Efram Investments Ltd. for the same end use.
These weapons could be diverted to Israeli settlers, whose increasing violence in the West Bank has resulted in multiple civilian deaths, including U.S. citizens.
3. Reinstatement and expansion of U.S. sanctions against violent settlers and extremist settler organizations. While the Biden administration has imposed limited sanctions, the family and CAIR-CT stressed that stronger and broader measures are urgently needed.
The Musallat family also called for a personal meeting with Senator Murphy and expressed hope that he would take a leadership role in pressing for justice, both publicly and in Congress.
“U.S. citizens are being killed, and the Israeli government is not holding perpetrators accountable,” said Farhan Memon, Chairman of CAIR-CT. “It is the responsibility of our government to protect American lives and values, not subsidize weapons for their killers. Senator Murphy can and should lead the charge.”
CAIR-CT is committed to amplifying the family’s voice and will be following up with members of Congress, particularly those who signed the Van Hollen letter. The organization encourages the public to contact their elected officials to support S.J. Res. 42 and S.J. Res. 70 and to demand meaningful action to prevent future tragedies.