Arabic version: نواب أميركيون يضغطون للإفراج عن طالبة أميركية محتجزة

According to Al Jazeera, more than 40 US lawmakers have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to press for the release of Sama Safi, a 20-year-old US citizen detained by the Israeli military since June.

In a letter led by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, lawmakers said the Palestinian American student’s health was deteriorating under “appalling conditions” in Israeli custody. They said Safi, who attended Birzeit University, was taken from her home in the occupied West Bank in a predawn raid nearly three months ago and has been held without charge.

The letter said Safi has Familial Mediterranean Fever, a genetic disorder causing fevers and inflammation, and has not had regular access to medication. It also cited her account of verbal abuse, painful stress positions, infectious skin disease, rats and mattresses reeking of feces. Six senators, including Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Chris Van Hollen, signed the appeal alongside dozens of House members.

The State Department said it does not comment on congressional correspondence or specific cases because of privacy concerns. A spokesperson said the Trump administration was aware of reports of an American detained in the West Bank, was tracking the situation, and advocates for adequate medical care, proper treatment and regular consular visits for Americans detained abroad.

Raed Jarrar of the US-based rights group DAWN said Safi’s detention should lead Washington to suspend military aid to Israeli units responsible, citing the Foreign Assistance Act and the Leahy Law. The Israeli government had not responded to Al Jazeera’s request for comment by publication. Earlier this month, the Israeli military said it detained four female suspects in the West Bank over alleged hostile terrorist activity and related activities.