US Lawmakers Urge Rubio to Secure Release of Detained Student Sama Safi

Safi was taken into custody on June 2 during a series of military raids at Birzeit University that also targeted three other female students. While Israeli authorities allege she is affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine—a charge her lawyer, Leah Tsemel, denies—lawmakers argue her detention is part of a broader campaign to suppress Palestinian education. Representative Rashida Tlaib and her colleagues emphasized that Safi’s condition, familial Mediterranean fever, requires specialized care that she is not receiving in custody.

The letter to Rubio details a grim environment within the Israeli military prison system, citing reports of physical abuse, poor sanitation, and the use of stress positions. Lawmakers pointed to findings from the United Nations Committee Against Torture, which has previously condemned systematic mistreatment within these facilities. With the support of 85 organizations, the congressional group is demanding that Rubio fulfill his duty to protect American citizens abroad, warning that failure to act could lead to irreversible damage to Safi’s health.