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Israel Jails Palestinian American Student Sama Safi Without Charges

HeadlineJun 16, 2026

A Palestinian American 20-year-old woman has been imprisoned by Israel for about two weeks. On June 2, Israeli soldiers broke down the door of Sama Safi’s family home in the occupied West Bank and took her in the middle of the night. Safi is a psychology student at Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank. The Guardian reported at least three other students at Birzeit have also been detained, including a member of the Palestinian women’s national soccer team. Safi’s family has raised concerns, saying she has a chronic medical condition that needs treatment. Several U.S. lawmakers, including Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, have demanded Safi’s release.

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