JERUSALEM – An American teen who went to Israel to mourn his murdered Palestinian cousin is now himself in a hospital after Israeli police beat him during a demonstration.
The US State Department confirmed that Tariq Khdeir, a 15-year-old American citizen from Florida, is being held by Israeli authorities in Jerusalem. He was visited by an official from the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem today. His father said Tariq suffered a broken nose and chin, and injuries to his eyes during clashes with police on Thursday.
“We are profoundly troubled by reports that he was severely beaten while in police custody and strongly condemn any excessive use of force,” a State Department spokesperson said. “We are calling for a speedy, transparent and credible investigation and full accountability for any excessive use of force.”
Tariq Khdeir is the cousin of a 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who was beaten and burned to death in retaliation for the killings of three Israeli teens by Hamas, a terrorist organization, earlier in June.
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