Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) kidnapped four female students at Birzeit University near Ramallah area on July 2 during a military raid. Image credit: Social media
On June 2, 2026, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) kidnapped four Palestinian college students — including one American citizen — in the middle of the night from their dormitories or homes and transferred them to undisclosed detention facilities.
The students were identified as:
- Jolan Abu Awwad, kidnapped after IOF soldiers stormed student housing in Birzeit, north of Ramallah;
- Sama Safi, taken from her family home in Ramallah at 3:00 a.m.;
- Liela Na’el Khalil, forcibly taken from her home in Beitunia;
- Natalie Abu Diah, kidnapped from her family residence in Birzeit.
Israel enforces a policy known as “administrative detention,” which allows authorities to imprison Palestinians for renewable six‑month periods without charges or trial. These detentions can continue for years. Currently, Israel is holding approximately 10,000 Palestinian detainees, including more than 3,000 under administrative detention in Israeli prisons.
This is precisely why, on October 7, 2023, Hamas took Israeli captives back to Gaza — to exchange them for Palestinian detainees. But notice the double standard: when Israel detains people for months or years without trial, they are labeled “administrative detainees” or “unlawful combatants.” When Hamas does it, they are labeled “hostages.”
A classified Israeli army database indicates that the vast majority of the 6,000 Palestinians taken from Gaza and held in Israeli detention facilities are civilians, according to a joint investigation published by +972 Magazine on September 4, 2025.
Where is the outrage? Where is the condemnation? Where is the demand for immediate release — the same demand we heard repeatedly when Hamas took Israeli hostages (including armed IOF soldiers) to Gaza on October 7, 2023? Shamefully, President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and other Western leaders have remained silent. They have not demanded the release of these four innocent college students, even though one of them is an American citizen.
When Sama Safi told IOF soldiers that she was an American, they reportedly replied, “We do not give a damn.” That is beyond insulting, especially considering the U.S. government provides Israel with financial aid, military support, and political cover. Israelis should show respect, because it is Americans who “butter their bread.”
The families of the four students have been denied access and communication. Sama’s family reports that she has a chronic health condition requiring daily medication, and her life is in danger. It is vital that she be immediately and unconditionally released. Who will stop those God's chosen terrorists???
Two Palestinian National Football players, Rand Alhalawani and Natalie Abu Diah, have also been abducted by the IOF — yet FIFA remains silent.
Natalie Abu Diah is a former Palestinian national soccer player. Palestinian organizations condemned the arrests, stating: “These arrests are part of a systematic policy of arbitrary detentions and persecution targeting Palestinian students, activists, and public figures.”
Why Were They Arrested?
Israel has not released a specific public explanation for the arrest of these four students. However, rights groups and regional media report that Israeli authorities often justify such arrests with vague “security-related” allegations, frequently involving supposed affiliation with banned political groups. Palestinian organizations argue that these arrests aim to suppress student political activity, particularly at Birzeit University, known for its active student blocs.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Addameer, and Al‑Haq have documented Israel’s long‑standing use of arrests without charges, prolonged imprisonment, and administrative detention.
The Palestinian Football Association has also called for urgent intervention from international sports bodies, denouncing the ongoing harassment of Palestinian athletes.
Last Wednesday, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D‑MD) wrote on social media: “The IDF seized 4 students from their homes in the West Bank, including 20‑year‑old American, Sama Safi. The Israeli government didn’t tell her family or the U.S. Embassy where or why she was being taken and is holding her without charges. America must secure her release NOW.”
https://x.com/ChrisVanHollen/status/2062259354170966284?s=20
Sen. Van Hollen added: “The Israeli government, the Netanyahu government, needs to tell everybody why they seized these students.” He emphasized the State Department’s responsibility: “Our ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, and Secretary of State Rubio — who always tell us their number one priority overseas is to protect American citizens — need to make sure that Sama is immediately released.”
Van Hollen also noted a pattern of attacks on U.S. citizens: “We’ve seen American citizens killed by violent Israeli settlers and by security forces without accountability. This has to change. I am sick and tired of the Israeli government taking American taxpayer dollars and then mistreating Americans.”
Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), an American nonprofit founded by the late Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has documented the killing of 14 U.S. citizens by Israeli soldiers and settlers since 2003. No one has been held criminally accountable.
Rights groups say these arrests reflect a long‑standing Israeli policy of detaining university students — often without charge — through administrative detention.
I urge all readers to contact their senators, representatives, President Trump, or Secretary Marc Rubio and demand the release of Sama Safi and the three other Palestinian college students.
Caption image #1: Natalie Abu Daeh and Rand Al Halawani have been both abducted by the IOF- FIFA is still silent!
Caption image #2: After the kidnapping of the four Birzeit University students, the total number of Palestinian women held in Israeli prisons rose to 89, including minors and pregnant women, according to the Palestinian Prisoner Society.
Mahmoud El‑Yousseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes on U.S. foreign policy, Middle East affairs, and justice. Email: elyousseph6@yahoo.com