SADDLE BROOK, N.J. — A family and community are seeking answers following the tragic death of a teenage Palestinian-American who was raised in New Jersey and was fatally shot in the West Bank.
Amer Rabee, 14, and two other teens were shot by Israeli forces for allegedly throwing rocks.
The incident occurred after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced in a statement on Sunday that they had identified “three terrorists who threw rocks in the direction of the highway, putting civilian drivers at risk” in the Turmus Ayya region of the West Bank.
The Palestinian-American Community Center confirmed Rabee’s death. He is the nephew of one of the center’s board members.
They said he was shot 11 times in total.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed in a statement to ABC News that a U.S. citizen died in the West Bank.
“We take note of the IDF’s initial statement indicating that this event took place during an anti-terrorism operation and that Israel is conducting an investigation,” the statement expressed.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy released the following statement, asking for answers from Israel:
“Amer was a U.S. citizen and New Jersey native who grew up in Saddle Brook. As the circumstances of his death remain unclear, I am asking for answers from the Israeli government as to why Amer, who was just 14 years old, was killed. This tragic loss of life underscores that the current course of conflict is continuing to take too great of a toll on too many people. Tammy and I are praying for Amer’s parents, Mohammed and Majed, and his four siblings, as they face this horrific loss.”
The center joined Rabee’s family at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon.
(ABC News contributed to this report.)
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