Greater than 40 members of the US Congress have penned a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on him to push for the discharge of Sama Safi, a 20-year-old US citizen who has been detained by the Israeli navy since June.
The legislators warned on Tuesday that the Palestinian American pupil’s well being is deteriorating “underneath appalling situations” in Israeli custody.
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“Daily that Sama stays wrongfully detained in these inhumane situations, she is at better threat of irreversible and life-threatening repercussions,” the lawmakers, led by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, wrote to Rubio.
“Her life is in danger in your watch. We urge you to behave swiftly and use each device at your disposal to safe the speedy launch of Sama Safi in order that she will be able to obtain the medical care she urgently wants and return to her household, her research, and the life and freedom that each 20-year-old deserves.”
Six US senators – together with Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Chris Van Hollen – signed on to the letter alongside dozens of members of the Home of Representatives.
Israeli forces kidnapped Safi, who was attending Birzeit College, from her residence within the occupied West Financial institution in a predawn raid practically three months in the past, they usually have been holding her with out cost.
Safi was one in all 4 younger ladies who had been detained as a part of an Israeli crackdown on anti-occupation activism in June.
Abuse in Israeli jails
Israel has obtained about $25bn in US navy support for the reason that begin of the genocidal struggle on Gaza in October 2023.
Over the previous years, Israeli troopers and settlers have killed a number of US residents, together with Sayfollah Musallet, who was crushed to dying in a settler assault final yr.
In February, Israeli settlers additionally fatally shot 19-year-old American citizen Nasrallah Abu Siyam. In 2024, the Israeli navy killed Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a US activist from Seattle.
Not one of the incidents have resulted in felony prices in opposition to the perpetrators.
Israel detained American teenager Mohammed Ibrahim for 9 months final yr and solely launched him after an outcry from US lawmakers, as his household warned that the boy might die from malnutrition and mistreatment in Israeli custody.
Rights teams have documented horrific and widespread abuses in opposition to Palestinian detainees by Israel, together with sexual violence.
“Emergency measures launched after 7 October 2023 uncovered Palestinian detainees to torture, doubtlessly illegal deaths, incommunicado detention, and degrading situations,” Alice Jill Edwards, the United Nations particular rapporteur on torture, mentioned in a report in Could.
Of their letter to Rubio, the US lawmakers underscored that Safi suffers from a power medical situation often known as Familial Mediterranean Fever, a genetic dysfunction that causes fevers and irritation, however she has not had common entry to her medicine.
The Palestinian American detainee has additionally been moved throughout a number of amenities.
“She describes being subjected to repeated verbal abuse and being positioned in painful stress positions, in addition to the presence of quickly spreading infectious pores and skin illness, rats, and mattresses reeking of feces,” the letter mentioned.
Trump administration ‘conscious’ of the case
The State Division mentioned it doesn’t touch upon congressional correspondence, and it declined to touch upon the specifics of Safi’s case, citing privateness issues.
A State Division spokesperson informed Al Jazeera that the administration of President Donald Trump “has no larger precedence than the security and safety” of US residents.
“We’re conscious of experiences of an American detained within the West Financial institution,” the spokesperson mentioned. “The Trump Administration takes its dedication to help People overseas significantly and we’re monitoring the scenario. When People are detained overseas, the Division advocates for his or her entry to ample medical care, correct remedy, and common consular visits.”
Raed Jarrar, advocacy director on the US-based rights group DAWN, prompt Safi’s detention ought to set off suspending American navy support to Israel underneath Washington’s laws, together with the Leahy Law.
“Sama Safi is an American citizen. Her personal authorities has deserted her,” he informed Al Jazeera. “The State Division’s job is to struggle for her launch, and it’s refusing to try this job. US regulation calls for greater than advocacy. Below the International Help Act and the Leahy Regulation, extended detention with out cost is a gross violation of human rights, and Washington should lower all navy support to the Israeli models liable for holding her.”
The Israeli authorities didn’t reply to Al Jazeera’s request for remark by the point of publication.
Earlier this month, the Israeli navy informed Florida radio station WMNF that it detained 4 “feminine suspects” within the West Financial institution “after selling hostile terrorist exercise and extra terrorist-related actions”.
