A 20-year-old Palestinian American woman has been detained by the Israeli military for almost two weeks following a raid on her family home in the early hours of June 2. Sama Safi, currently studying psychology at Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank, has yet to face any formal charges. The Israeli military claims that she, along with three other women, was arrested for allegedly promoting terrorist activities.
### Calls for Sama Safi’s Release
Numerous US lawmakers have advocated for Safi’s release, highlighting her chronic medical condition that necessitates ongoing treatment. Among the detained individuals is another student from Birzeit University, who is part of the Palestinian women’s national soccer team. While one player was recently granted release, the four students remain in an Israeli interrogation facility known for its harsh treatment of detainees.
Safi’s attorney, the noted Israeli human rights lawyer Lea Tsemel, argues that the students may have been targeted following information obtained from two other detained students. Allegedly, these individuals provided the Israeli military with a list of names linked to an activist student organization called Qutub, which the Israeli authorities claim is connected to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)—a group classified by Israel as a terrorist organization.
### Allegations and Legal Proceedings
Tsemel contends that Safi denies any involvement with the student group, asserting that the organization itself is not unlawful. She criticized the methods used to extract information from the detained students, suggesting that coercive tactics may have been employed. Safi’s next legal hearing is anticipated for this coming Sunday, amidst growing concerns over her wellbeing in detention.
In her visit to Safi, Tsemel noted that she appeared to be in relatively good spirits due to her belief in her innocence. Nonetheless, the attorney acknowledged a deterioration in the treatment of Palestinians detained over security allegations, which has reportedly become harsher following events on October 7, 2023. Reports from journalists and human rights organizations have shed light on the systemic abuses that Palestinians face in Israeli detention, including instances of physical violence and sexual abuse.
### Safi’s Health Concerns
Having spent much of her life between Palestine and Florida, where her mother is from, Safi’s family has raised alarms about her health issues. She suffers from a chronic autoinflammatory condition that leads to severe pain and fever. After a prolonged period of illness, she had only recently started to recover with proper medication and treatment abroad. Her family reported that while she is receiving some medication in detention, it is insufficient and not suitable for adequately managing her health condition.
This week, a representative from the US embassy in Jerusalem assessed Safi’s situation and commented that she seemed to be in “good spirits,” although he characterized her meals as “prison food.” Despite these reassurances, a spokesperson for the US State Department indicated reluctance to discuss specific details of Safi’s case, expressing that they prioritize the privacy of individuals.
### Solidarity and Advocacy Efforts
Safi’s cousin, Selma Farsakh Ulm, has mobilized support from her friends involved in the Palestine solidarity movement, aiming to raise awareness for Safi’s plight. This advocacy garnered significant attention, drawing responses from several US senators who previously advocated for another detained American, Mohammed Ibrahim, a young Palestinian boy freed after a nine-month detention due to a concerted campaign from US lawmakers.
Farsakh Ulm hopes that Safi’s American nationality will compel the Israeli government to act, though she acknowledges that countless other Palestinian detainees are facing similar circumstances. “What Sama is experiencing reflects a broader reality faced by many,” she noted. By spotlighting Safi’s case, advocacy efforts aim to educate the public on the systematic injustices suffered by Palestinian prisoners, irrespective of their citizenship status.