The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida) today commends U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL) for leading a congressional letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The letter demands accountability and an independent, U.S.-led investigation into the killing of American citizens, including 20-year-old, Tampa, Florida ice cream shop owner, Sayfollah ‘Sayf’ Kamel Musallet. The letter urges the U.S. Department of State to take immediate measures to curb escalating settler violence in the West Bank.
Rep. Castor’s letter highlights a critical lack of accountability by the Netanyahu government regarding the brutal July 11, 2025, murder of Musallet—who was beaten to death by extremist Israeli settlers while protecting his family’s land—as well as the recent killings of other American citizens, including Khamis al-Ayyad and 19-year-old Nasrallah Abu Siyam, who was shot and killed on February 18, 2026.
In response to the initiative, CAIR-Florida Executive Director Hiba Rahim stated:
“We welcome Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s necessary leadership in demanding justice for her constituent Sayfollah Musallet and the many American citizens who have lost their lives to unchecked, state-enabled extremist settler violence in the West Bank. It is the fundamental duty of the United States government to protect its citizens abroad and ensure absolute accountability when they are harmed. For nearly a year, Sayfollah’s grieving family in Tampa has been met with silence. We call on Secretary Rubio and the Department of Justice to launch an immediate, independent U.S. investigation into these targeted killings.”
CALL TO ACTION FOR FLORIDA CITIZENS AND LEADERS:
CAIR-Florida is urgently calling on all Florida citizens, religious leaders, and civil rights organizations to amplify the demand for justice and email your US Officials, urging them to take stronger measures to curb Israeli settler violence against U.S. Citizens in the West Bank: https://bit.ly/ActionForSayf
Additionally, we ask all people of conscience to thank the Representatives who joined Representative Castor in her letter. Thank the 26 Reps here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/b_1yhbBpBkOOgOQTbESDZQ2
The representatives include:
U.S. Representative Kathy Castor
U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost
U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar
U.S. Representative Nellie Pou
U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib
U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter
U.S. Representative James McGovern
U.S. Representative Sean Casten
U.S. Representative Eleanor Homes Norton
U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro
U.S. Representative Stephen Lynch
U.S. Representative Dave Min
U.S. Representative Nydia Velazquez
U.S. Representative Hank Johnson
U.S. Representative Delia Ramirez
U.S. Representative Lateefah Simon
U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam
U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar
U.S. Representative Chuy Garcia
U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett
U.S. Representative Paul Tonko
U.S. Representative Ro Khanna
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan
U.S. Representative Robin Kelly
U.S. Representative Al Green
U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes
The congressional inquiry notes that despite past promises from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee calling for an aggressive investigation into Musallet’s “criminal and terrorist” murder, the Israeli government has failed to provide answers, while continuing actions that drive the forced displacement of Palestinian communities. Rep. Castor has requested a formal update from the State Department and DOJ by June 5, 2026.
CAIR-Florida is the state’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil liberties, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT:
Wilfredo Ruiz, CAIR-Florida Communications Director, (305)502-6749, [email protected]
Chelsea Mandrigues, CAIR-Florida Communications Coordinator, (813)705-5440, [email protected]