In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the Abu Awwad family’s dream of returning to their Palestinian homeland turned into a nightmare when a mob of nearby Israeli settlers unleashed a rampage, leaving their house in ruins. Kayed Abu Awwad, a 38-year-old American-born Palestinian truck driver, had sold their home in Oak Lawn, Illinois, with the intention of moving his family to “our homeland” for a few years to immerse his American-born children, aged 3, 11, and 14, in the language and culture of their heritage. The family had meticulously planned the move, shipping their furniture to a house built by Kayed’s father in the West Bank town of Turmus Ayya, adjacent to his wife Dina’s childhood home. However, on 21 June, just two weeks before the family’s scheduled arrival, a mob of settlers from nearby Israeli settlements, all deemed illegal under international law, unleashed chaos in Turmus Ayya. The settlers torched cars, smashed windows, and firebombed homes, including the Abu Awwad residence.
Though the family was not present during the attack, Dina’s 75-year-old mother Khadija was in the house next door, which the settlers also firebombed. She was assisted by neighbors who helped her escape through a back door, averting potential tragedy. The attack on Turmus Ayya was not an isolated incident. It was part of a disturbing trend of settler violence that has been escalating in the occupied West Bank in recent years. These attacks flourish in an environment of leniency from Israeli security forces and impunity from the justice system. In the aftermath of the rampage, Abu Awwad’s house is severely damaged and lies in a vulnerable position, situated on the northern edge of the town, making it one of the first targets for settlers marching from the illegal settlement of Shiloh.
The incident reflects the challenges faced by Palestinian-Americans living in the West Bank, who do not escape the abuses committed by Israeli occupation authorities against other Palestinians. Despite the substantial aid provided to Israel by the US, the American government has been unable to protect its citizens in the region. The attack on Turmus Ayya drew international condemnation, with the US State Department calling for accountability and legal prosecution for those responsible for the violence and compensation for the losses incurred by the victims. Diplomats from the US and other countries visited the town to assess the situation. However, the persistence of settler violence stems from a lack of deterrence, which seems to serve the broader goal of expanding Israeli control over more West Bank land. Palestinian-American families like the Abu Awwads face bureaucratic obstacles and live under constant threat of home demolitions and fines due to the stringent building permit requirements in Area C, where Israeli authorities hold exclusive authority. As the Abu Awwad family grapples with the aftermath of the attack, they find themselves displaced and living with relatives, uncertain about the future. Kayed’s plan to travel to the US for work is now marred by concerns about leaving his family vulnerable without proper protection. The tragedy faced by the Abu Awwad family is a stark reminder of the human rights abuses endured by Palestinian-Americans in the West Bank, prompting questions about Israel’s accountability in protecting all its residents, regardless of their ethnic, national, or racial identity.