Washington: A group of 40 US lawmakers, including six senators, demanded the immediate release of a 20-year-old American on Tuesday who is being held in an Israeli military prison.
According to Anadolu Agency, the legislators addressed a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the release of Sama Safi due to her 'severe chronic health condition.' Safi, a student at Birzeit University, was reportedly taken from her family's home in the occupied West Bank during late-night military raids on June 2.
The lawmakers asserted that it is the responsibility of Washington to ensure the safety of all Americans overseas, emphasizing that Safi's life is 'at risk on your watch.' They urged the State Department to prevent 'further irreparable harm' and stressed the duty to secure the safety and security of US citizens abroad.
The letter highlighted Safi's struggle with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), a complex chronic condition. Legislators warned that her condition has 'rapidly deteriorated,' with doctors cautioning she faces 'life-threatening damage to her internal organs' if she remains in custody. Since her return to detention on August 16, after a brief medical release, Safi has reportedly 'not once received her daily medication' nor been evaluated by medical professionals.
Lawmakers provided distressing accounts of mistreatment, describing the environment as a 'de facto State policy of organized and widespread torture.' Safi's testimony included experiences of being shackled, blindfolded, and denied food or water for the first 24 hours of her custody. The letter also mentioned the use of "shackling and the throwing of gas and stun grenades" into poorly ventilated cells, noting that "stress positions" have caused the student severe chest pain.
The legislators criticized her transfer from the occupied West Bank to the Damon military prison near Haifa, labeling it a 'blatant violation of the 4th Geneva Convention.' They emphasized that these inhumane conditions and violence towards detainees are not isolated to one facility.
In June, a State Department spokesperson informed Anadolu that the administration is 'aware of the detention of an American in the West Bank.' The official stated that the Trump administration is "monitoring the situation," although no details were shared due to privacy considerations.
Palestinian records indicate that approximately 23,000 individuals have been detained in the occupied territory since the current war in the Gaza Strip began.