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🇮🇱 Israel /Crime & Justice

IDF arrests Palestinian-American student with no charge, given poor medical attention, family says

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Under investigation
  • Sama Safi, a 20-year-old Palestinian-American student, was arrested by the IDF in the West Bank on June 2 and has not been charged.
  • U.S. officials and Safi's family report she has not received adequate medical attention for a condition requiring daily medication.
  • U.S. senators and congresspeople have called for Safi's immediate release, citing her American citizenship and the circumstances of her arrest.

Sama Safi, a 20-year-old Palestinian-American psychology student residing in the West Bank, was arrested by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during a home raid on June 2. Two weeks later, Safi remains in detention without charge, according to U.S. officials and media reports citing her family.

promoting hostile terrorist activity and additional terrorist-related activities.

— IDF spokespersonThe IDF's stated reason for the arrest of Sama Safi and three other female students.

An IDF spokesperson stated that Safi and three other female students from Birzeit University were arrested for "promoting hostile terrorist activity and additional terrorist-related activities." The IDF claims Safi was linked to the student activism organization al-Qutub, which media outlets associate with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), designated a terror organization by Israel. Safi's lawyer, Lea Tsemel, however, argues that involvement with al-Qutub is not illegal and suggests information may have been "extorted" from detainees.

being involved with al-Qutub is not illegal and the information was likely "extorted" from the detainees, "probably by force."

— Lea TsemelSafi's lawyer questioning the basis of the charges and the methods used to obtain information.

Concerns have been raised about Safi's well-being in detention. Her family and U.S. officials report that she has a medical condition requiring daily medication and has not received sufficient medical attention. Massachusetts Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen noted that Safi informed security forces of her American citizenship during the arrest, which he claims was ignored.

Sama was taken from her home “without explanation” during a 3 a.m. raid and told security forces she was an American citizen, which he said was ignored.

— Chris Van HollenMassachusetts Democratic Senator describing the circumstances of Safi's arrest.

Several U.S. government officials have publicly called for Safi's release. Senator Van Hollen posted a video on Twitter/X detailing the circumstances of her arrest. Oregon Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley stated on Twitter/X that "Sama's family and the U.S. Embassy don't know where she was taken. This is a five-alarm fire. The U.S. needs to secure Sama's release NOW." Massachusetts Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley also posted on Twitter/X, claiming IDF soldiers "terrorized [Safi's] family" during the arrest.

Sama's family and the U.S. Embassy don't know where she was taken. This is a five-alarm fire. The U.S. needs to secure Sama's release NOW.

— Jeff MerkleyOregon Democratic Senator calling for the U.S. to secure Safi's release.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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