Key facts
- US Congressman Derek Tran is concerned about the detention of 20-year-old Palestinian-American student Sama Safi in an Israeli prison.
- Safi was arrested on June 2 in the occupied West Bank and is reportedly held without charges.
- Tran stated that the US has a responsibility to protect its citizens abroad and urged the Trump administration to act.
- A separate group of 27 Democratic lawmakers has called for the release of 16-year-old Palestinian-American Mohammed Ibrahim, detained for nearly eight months.
- Ibrahim was arrested in February and has reportedly suffered from poor conditions, including significant weight loss and scabies.
- Lawmakers have raised concerns about due process in Israeli military courts and cited the death of another young Palestinian detainee.
US Congressman Derek Tran has voiced deep concern over the detention of Sama Safi, a 20-year-old Palestinian-American student held in an Israeli prison since her arrest on June 2 in the occupied West Bank. Tran stated that Safi was taken from her home at night and continues to be held without charges, which he described as part of a pattern of the Israeli government denying Palestinians basic due process rights.
Tran emphasized the US responsibility to protect its citizens abroad and urged the Trump administration to utilize all diplomatic means to ensure Safi's safe return. Safi was among four female students from Birzeit University arrested during Israeli military raids.
This situation echoes the case of Mohammed Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Palestinian-American from Florida, who has been held in Israeli military detention for nearly eight months. Ibrahim was arrested in February at age 15. Over two dozen Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Kathy Castor and Maxwell Frost, have written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the US Ambassador to Israel, urging them to secure Ibrahim's release. They highlighted that Ibrahim has lost significant weight, contracted scabies, and is suffering in "cruel and inhumane conditions" with "extremely insufficient" meals.
Lawmakers noted that Ibrahim is accused of throwing rocks at Israeli vehicles, but no public evidence has been presented. They also pointed to the March death of 17-year-old Walid Ahmad, who died in Israeli prison after six months of detention, with his autopsy indicating death from malnutrition, torture, and denial of medical care. The lawmakers warned against a repeat of such a tragedy with Ibrahim. Ibrahim's family has had limited contact with him, receiving updates through US embassy staff and former detainees. Ibrahim is also the cousin of Sayfollah Musallet, a Palestinian-American who was allegedly beaten to death by Israeli settlers, an incident for which no arrests have been made.