Family of NJ teen killed in West Bank demands answers
13
NEW JERSEY (PIX11) -- A Palestinian American family from New Jersey is calling on the federal government to investigate their son’s death over the weekend in the West Bank.
Fourteen-year-old Amer Mohamad Saada Rabee was shot and killed Sunday.
The Israel Defense Forces claim that they identified “three terrorists who hurled rocks toward the highway,” endangering civilian drivers.
Amer’s family claims the circumstances were much more innocent.
“Amer was killed after he and two other boys were picking almonds off a tree,” said Rania Mustafa, the executive director of the Palestinian American Community Center.
“This kid was unarmed … no weapons,” said Amer’s uncle, Rami Jbara. “He’s just playing on top of a tree getting those almonds.”
Amer’s family moved to Palestine from Saddle Brook in 2013. Amer had dual citizenship and often traveled back and forth.
“This was a senseless killing of an innocent 14-year-old boy, a boy who also happens to be an American citizen,” said Salaedin Maksut, the executive director of the Council of American Islamic Relations-NJ.
Amer’s father said he learned of Sunday’s shooting through a family friend. He said he tried for hours to get information from the American embassy before learning the gruesome truth.
“He had 11 shots,” said Mohammed Rabee. “Two in his stomach, one in his leg, two in his hand, two in his heart, two in his shoulder, and two in his head.”
The Rabee family is calling for the United States government to step in and get answers.
“We demand a formal investigation into the murder of Amer,” said Mustafa. “We demand our local and state officials condemn this killing. We demand the American embassy take accountability. And we demand an end to the illegal Israeli operation and an end to the genocide.”
So far, the White House has not addressed Amer’s death.