Lawmaker calls for release of Palestinian-American held in Israeli prison US Congressman Derek Tran has expressed concern over the detention of 20-year-old Palestinian-American student Sama Safi, who is being held in an Israeli prison following her arrest in the occupied West Bank earlier this month. In a statement, Tran said he was "deeply alarmed" by Safi's detention, noting that she "was taken from her home in the middle of the night and continues to be held without charges". He described the case as part of what he called "a disturbing pattern of the Israeli government denying Palestinians their basic due process rights, often at risk to their health and safety".