Family of U.S. Student Calls on Washington to Secure Her Release from Israeli Jail

Palestinian-American psychology student Sama Safi has been incarcerated in Israel’s Damon Prison since June, detained with three fellow Birzeit University women and denied formal charges. Her aunt, Leila Farsakh, credits activist pressure for two embassy visits but insists the U.S. must intervene to secure her release, especially given Safi’s chronic illness that requires regular medication she is not receiving. The prison environment is described as overcrowded, with reports of verbal abuse, medical neglect, and a spreading skin disease among detainees.

High-profile U.S. officials, including Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representative Rashida Tlaib, have highlighted the case, urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ambassador Mike Huckabee to act. Over a hundred human-rights groups have signed a letter demanding Safi’s freedom, citing broader concerns about the treatment of Palestinian prisoners and violations of international and American law. The family hopes the campaign will not only free Safi but also draw attention to the deteriorating conditions for Palestinian women detainees in the West Bank.