WASHINGTON, August 21, 2014 (WAFA) – The United States on Wednesday accused Israel of targeting the family of Mohammad Abu-Khdeir , a teenager who was kidnapped and killed by an Israeli gang in July, according to the AFP news agency.

The AFP said Washington was annoyed that Israel had not informed them of their arrest of  two of Abu Khudeir's cousins, who are U.S. citizens, almost  three weeks ago.

16-year-old Mohammad Abu-Khdeir was abducted on July 2 in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Shaafat. He was later found burned alive and killed in a wood in West Jerusalem.

Three days after his death, on July 5, the United States denounced Israel's arrest of Abu Khdeir’s cousin, Tareq Abu Khdeir, 15, a US citizen. He was beaten by the Israeli Police while arresting him and has since been freed and returned to Florida.

 On July 28, another cousin of Abu Khdeir, also American, was arrested in Israel as well, the State Department saidWednesday. Deputy Spokeswoman Marie Harf identified him as “Mohammed Abu Khdeir,” the same as his murdered cousin's name.

“We can confirm that Mohammed Abu Khdeir, a US citizen, was arrested on July 28. The US consulate general in Jerusalem is providing consular assistance. A consular official visited him on August 14th. The consulate is also in contact with Mr. Khdeir's family and his lawyer,” Harf said.

“We are concerned that the US consulate general in Jerusalem was not notified of his arrest by the government of Israel,” Harf added.

“We are also concerned about the fact that members of the Khdeir family appeared to be singled out for arrest by the Israeli authorities,” she stressed.

Mohammad Abu Neyya, 15, is also a U.S. citizen who has been arrested by the Israeli authorities since July 3, amid reports saying he has been beaten in detention. The United States has repeatedly called on Israel to resolve his issue.

M.N./T.R.