US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed that "the United States is seeking more information from the Israeli government regarding the lack of prosecution of soldiers who killed a Palestinian-American citizen." Miller stated, "Since the tragic death of Mr. Asad, we have continued to discuss this disturbing incident with the Israeli government... We are aware of the investigation's outcome and are currently seeking more information from the Israeli government in this regard."
Israeli forces arrested 78-year-old Omar Asad at a temporary checkpoint in his hometown of Jaljulia in the West Bank last January. The soldiers left him incapacitated at a construction site, claiming they thought he was asleep. Asad was found dead the following morning, with one of his wrists still handcuffed. Following a preliminary investigation, the military dismissed two of its personnel and reprimanded the battalion commander due to Asad's death, which they attributed to "moral failure and misjudgment."
The head of the military's legal department stated in a statement on Tuesday that he made his decision "after interrogations and a thorough examination of investigation materials that indicated no connection between the soldiers' misconduct and the death of Asad." The Israeli military prosecutor stated on Tuesday that the soldiers who left Omar Asad out in the open overnight will not face criminal charges but will undergo disciplinary procedures. An autopsy conducted by Palestinian authorities found that Asad, who previously lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and had heart issues, died of a heart attack due to stress, which Palestinian officials attributed to the rough treatment he received from the Israeli soldiers.
