US Senator Chris Van Hollen has called for the release of a 20-year-old American citizen, Sama Safi, who was detained by Israeli forces from Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank. According to Van Hollen, Israeli security personnel entered Safi’s home around 3 a.m. and took her away without explanation, despite her informing them of her US citizenship.

In a video message posted on X, Van Hollen criticized the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration for their treatment of US citizens while receiving American taxpayer funding. He also alleged that previous incidents involving the deaths of US citizens at the hands of Israeli settlers and soldiers had gone without accountability.

Human rights organizations described the arrests of Palestinian students as part of an intimidation campaign aimed at pressuring Palestinian communities. Israeli authorities have not yet issued any response to the senator’s statement or the reported detentions.