The incident has drawn international attention and sparked outrage, particularly as Huckabee, known for his strong support of Israeli settlements, has previously faced criticism for his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His remarks come after an initial silence from the US government regarding the violence. Musallet's family alleges that he was attempting to protect their land from encroaching settlers when the fatal confrontation occurred. Tragically, another young man, Mohammed al-Shalabi, was shot and killed during the same incident, intensifying calls from the victims’ families for a deeper inquiry into the actions leading to their deaths. The Israeli military has stated they are conducting an investigation, claiming the violence erupted following stone-throwing by "terrorists," a label that has fueled further debate about the narrative surrounding the conflict.