US lawmakers demand release of American student held in Israel

Forty members of the US Congress, including six senators, have called for the immediate release of Sama Safi, a 20-year-old American-Palestinian student held in Israeli military detention. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, lawmakers urged the State Department to intervene due to Safi’s severe chronic health condition and concerns regarding her treatment.

Safi, a psychology student at Birzeit University in the West Bank, was detained on June 2 during a military raid on her family home. She is currently held at the Damon military prison near Haifa. Lawmakers highlighted that Safi suffers from Familial Mediterranean Fever, an inherited inflammatory disease requiring daily medication. They warned that interruptions to her medical care could lead to life-threatening organ damage.

The letter also raised allegations of mistreatment, including reports of Safi being blindfolded, handcuffed, and denied food or water during her initial detention. Lawmakers expressed concern over broader patterns of prisoner treatment and the legality of transferring her from the West Bank to a prison within Israel, citing potential violations of international humanitarian law.