An Israeli soldier stands guard in Hebron, located in the occupied West Bank, on June 13 (local time). / Reuters Yonhap

Palestinian-American college student detained by Israeli forces over alleged terror ties

A Palestinian-American woman in her 20s has been arrested by the Israeli military in the West Bank and held in a detention facility for nearly two weeks, the British daily The Guardian reported on June 13 (local time).

Sama Safi, 20, a psychology student at Birzeit University in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has been detained since June 2, when Israeli forces raided her residence.

An Israeli military spokesperson stated that Safi and three other female students from the same university arrested around the same time are being held on suspicions of inciting hostile terrorist activity and other terror-related actions.

The four college students are reportedly detained at an Israeli detention and interrogation facility in Jerusalem, which is notorious for its history of prisoner abuse.

Multiple members of the U.S. Congress have urged for Safi's release. Meanwhile, her family expressed grave concern, noting that she suffers from a chronic autoimmune inflammatory condition that requires regular medical treatment.

Among the detained students is a player for the Palestinian women's national football team. Another player from the same team was also previously arrested but was recently released.

Lea Tsemel, an Israeli human rights lawyer representing Safi, explained that the students were targeted after two previously detained students provided the Israeli military with a list of dozens of individuals allegedly linked to a student activist group called "Kutub."

Israel claims that the organization is linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which it has designated as a terrorist organization.

Attorney Tsemel refuted the allegations, stating that Safi is not associated with Kutub and arguing that the group’s activities are not illegal.

Regarding the students who provided the list, Tsemel remarked, "I don't know how they extracted that information, but it was likely under duress," calling the claims nonsense.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department declined to comment on Safi's case specifically, citing privacy considerations, but stated, "The Donald Trump administration takes its commitment to protecting American citizens abroad seriously and is monitoring the situation."

The spokesperson added, "When a U.S. citizen is detained overseas, the State Department works to ensure they receive appropriate medical care and seeks consular access as swiftly as possible."

                                                                                                              Kim Hyun-min