U.S. Agents Detain British Journalist Sami Hamdi After Criticism of Israel

In a stunning display of political repression, British Muslim journalist and commentator Sami Hamdi was detained by U.S. immigration agents at San Francisco International Airport, reportedly in retaliation for his outspoken criticism of Israel’s war on Gaza during a public speaking tour.

Hamdi, who has not been deported but remains in U.S. custody, was seized by ICE officers despite entering the country legally.

His legal team has condemned the arrest as a blatant attack on freedom of expression and a dangerous precedent that criminalizes dissent against Washington’s closest ally in the Middle East.

Advocates and rights groups say Hamdi’s detention exposes how deeply pro-Israel pressure has infiltrated U.S. policy, turning immigration enforcement into a tool of political silencing.

They argue that arresting a foreign journalist for condemning a foreign government’s human rights abuses is not a matter of national security; it is a test of America’s moral integrity.

As outrage spreads across social media, many warn that this episode reflects a broader pattern of those who challenge Israel’s actions being targeted, not for what they do, but for daring to speak the truth.