Van Hollen Joins Over 35 Bicameral Colleagues in Demanding Release of U.S. Citizen in Israeli Military Prison

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12) and 39 Members of Congress, including 5 Senators, in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, demanding the immediate and permanent release of U.S. citizen Sama Safi, a 20-year-old student with a severe chronic health condition, from Israeli military prison. On June 2, in the middle of the night, Sama was torn from her family's home in the occupied West Bank as part of a series of raids targeting Birzeit University students.

"With every additional day that Sama is subjected to deprivation and abuse by Israel, our fear grows that her spark is being dimmed; that we are losing pieces of her health, her strength, and the vibrant, loving spirit that makes her who she is," said Sama's parents. "Every morning, we wake wishing this was only a nightmare, hoping to open our eyes to the sound of Sama playing music. Every waking moment, we cannot help but imagine what she must be facing alone. Yet we are holding on to hope through those who stand with us and are helping us bring Sama home. We are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Tlaib and all the signatories of this letter for standing with us in our urgent call to free Sama."

"Every day that Sama remains wrongfully detained in these inhumane conditions, she is at greater risk of irreversible and life-threatening repercussions," the Members wrote to Secretary Rubio. "It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of all Americans abroad, with no exceptions. Her life is at risk on your watch. We urge you to act swiftly and use every tool at your disposal to secure the immediate release of Sama Safi so that she can receive the medical care she urgently needs and return to her family, her studies, and the life and freedom that every 20-year-old deserves."

Sama has described horrific conditions and violence by guards in Israeli military detention, including frequent physical assault, gas and stun grenades thrown in overcrowded cells, and lack of food and water. Every day, thousands of Palestinians in Israeli detention are subjected to these conditions as part of what the United Nations Committee Against Torture described as "a de facto State policy of organized and widespread torture and ill-treatment."

"Such wretched conditions and treatment have caused Sama's health to rapidly decline to dangerous levels in detention. Sama suffers from a severe and complex chronic medical condition known as Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), which requires regular monitoring, daily medication, and recurring specialized biologic treatment abroad," the Members wrote. "Sama has reported receiving her medication inconsistently, resulting in several missed doses. Stress positions and shackling have exacerbated her condition, causing severe rheumatoid and chest pain. Her doctors have warned that with her continued military detention and 'being constantly exposed to conditions that exacerbate her inflammatory status, the possibility of progressive tissue injury and irreversible organ damage is our greatest concern.'"

On August 17, over 100 faith-based groups wrote a letter to Secretary Rubio demanding Sama's release.

In addition to Van Hollen and Tlaib, the letter was signed by Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), as well as Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.-03), André Carson (D-Ind.-07), Greg Casar (D-Texas-35), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas-20), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.-05), Christopher Deluzio (D-Pa.-17), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.-03), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas-37), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.-10), Chuy García (D-Ill.-04), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Al Green (D-Texas-09), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.-07), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.-01), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Hank Johnson, Jr. (D-Ga.-04), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Summer Lee (D-Pa.-12), Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.-04), James McGovern (D-Mass.-02), Analilia Mejia (D-N.J.-11), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.-14), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.-05), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.-07), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.-03), Emily Randall (D-Wash.-06), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.-20), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.-07), Maxine Waters (D-Calif.-43), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12).

The letter is endorsed by 85 organizations: IMEU Policy Project, A New Policy, Action Corps, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action), Arab American Caucus of the California Democratic Party, Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies at San Francisco State University, Arab Resource & Organizing Center Action (AROC Action), Arlington for Palestine, Beyt Tikkun Synagogue, Boston Coalition For Palestine, Brooklyn For Peace, CAIR Action, California Democrats for Justice in Palestine, Center for Constitutional Rights, Christians for a Free Palestine, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), Cleveland Peace Action, Codepink, Common Defense, Community Alliance for Peace and Justice, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), Detroit & MI National Lawyers Guild, Disability Justice for Palestine, Doctors Against Genocide, Emgage Michigan, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Gen-Z for Change, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Hind Rajab Foundation, Historians for Peace and Democracy, IfNotNow Movement, Indiana Center for Middle East Peace, Institute for Policy Studies New Internationalism Project, Jewish Voice for Peace, Just Foreign Policy, Majdal: Arab Community Center of San Diego, MARUF CT, Massachusetts Peace Action, Methodist Federation for Social Action, Minnesota Peace Project, MPower Change Action Fund, Musicians Against Genocide, Muslim Advocates, Muslims for Just Futures, NE Oakland Indivisible, NH Peace Action, North Carolina Peace Action, Northshore For Palestine, Orange County for Justice in Palestine, Palestine House of Freedom, Palestine Legal, Palestinian House Of New England, Pax Christi New York State, Peace Action Montgomery, Peace Action New York State, Peace Action of San Mateo County, Peace Justice Sustainability NOW, Philly Neighborhood Networks, Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee, Progressive Democrats of America - Central New Mexico, Queer Folk Inc., Rabbis for Ceasefire, Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice, ReThinking Foreign Policy, River Valley for Palestine, RootsAction, Statewide Indivisible Michigan, Stu Maismith Veterans For Peace, Syrian Community Network, Teaching Palestine: Pedagogical Praxis and the Indivisibility of Justice, The American Council for Judaism, The Justice Coalition, Transition Security Project, U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR), US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action, US Palestinian Council, Veterans For Peace, Veterans For Peace Chapter 74, Washington for Peace and Justice, and We the People Dissent.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We write with urgency to demand that the Department of State act now to ensure the immediate and permanent release of U.S. citizen Sama Safi, a 20-year-old university student with a severe complex chronic health condition, who the Israeli military has arbitrarily and wrongfully detained since June 2nd. Sama's medical condition has rapidly deteriorated after being subjected to abysmal detention conditions in the months since armed Israeli soldiers raided her family's home in the occupied West Bank in the middle of the night and tore her from her family. Her doctors have warned of irreversible and life-threatening damage to her internal organs if her detention continues. You have a duty to secure the safety and security of U.S. citizens abroad, and we urge you to act quickly to prevent further irreparable harm to Sama by securing her immediate release.

Sama, a current honors psychology student at Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank, was kidnapped and detained without charge in a pre-dawn raid on June 2nd, as part of a series of raids targeting Birzeit University students that morning that wrongfully detained three other young women: Natalie Abu Diah, Leila Khalil, and Joulan Abu Awad. This targeting of Palestinian students is not an isolated incident but part of what United Nations human rights experts have called a systematic policy to "undermine the right to education."

Since June 2nd, Sama has suffered under appalling conditions in Israeli military detention. She has been transferred through multiple facilities, including an illegal transfer out of the occupied West Bank to the Damon Israeli military prison near Haifa-a blatant violation of the 4th Geneva Convention. Sama has described the use of serious physical violence by guards against detainees, including frequent physical assault, shackling, and the throwing of gas and stun grenades into already overcrowded and poorly ventilated cells. Sama recounted her treatment, stating, "After I was taken into custody, I was shackled, blindfolded, driven around for several hours. I was given no food or water for the first 24 hours." She describes being subjected to repeated verbal abuse and being placed in painful stress positions, as well as the presence of rapidly spreading infectious skin disease, rats, and mattresses reeking of feces.

These inhumane conditions and violence towards detainees are not unique to one facility. They are systemic and well-documented throughout Israel's vast military prison system, where thousands of Palestinians are held every day, many indefinitely and without charge. In December, the United Nations Committee Against Torture denounced Israel's application of "a de facto State policy of organized and widespread torture and ill-treatment" in these prisons, including evidence of sexual violence, electrocution, waterboarding, systemic denial of medical care, denial of adequate nutrition and water, and deprivation of clothing, sleep, and access to hygiene facilities.

Such wretched conditions and treatment have caused Sama's health to rapidly decline to dangerous levels in detention. Sama suffers from a severe and complex chronic medical condition known as Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), which requires regular monitoring, daily medication, and recurring specialized biologic treatment abroad. Sama has reported receiving her medication inconsistently throughout her detention, resulting in frequent missed doses. Since returning to detention on August 16 following a brief medical release, Sama has reportedly not once received her daily medication nor been seen by doctors. Stress positions and shackling have exacerbated her condition, causing severe rheumatoid and chest pain. Her doctors have warned that with her continued military detention and "being constantly exposed to conditions that exacerbate her inflammatory status, the possibility of progressive tissue injury and irreversible organ damage is our greatest concern."

Every day that Sama remains wrongfully detained in these inhumane conditions, she is at greater risk of irreversible and life-threatening repercussions. On August 17, over 100 faith-based, human rights, and civil rights groups wrote to you urging immediate action to secure her release. It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of all Americans abroad, with no exceptions. Her life is at risk on your watch. We urge you to act swiftly and use every tool at your disposal to secure the immediate release of Sama Safi so that she can receive the medical care she urgently needs and return to her family, her studies, and the life and freedom that every 20-year-old deserves.