US detains British journalist during tour after Israel criticism

US authorities detained a British Muslim journalist on Sunday, apparently due to his criticism of Israel, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair).

Sami Hamdi was held by the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agency at San Francisco international airport during a speaking tour in the US.

Hamdi had spoken at a Cair gala on Saturday in Sacramento, where he condemned Israel's genocide in Gaza.

He was scheduled to speak at another Cair event in Florida on Sunday.

Cair has described the detention as retaliation for Hamdi's criticism of Israel, calling it an "abduction".

“Detaining a prominent British Muslim journalist and political commentator during his speaking tour in the United States simply for daring to criticise the Israeli government’s actions is a blatant attack on free speech,” the Washington-based Cair said in a statement.

Hamdi is the editor-in-chief of The International Interest, a publication focused on Middle East geopolitics, and is known for his outspoken criticism of US and Israeli policies.

“Our attorneys and partners are working to address this injustice. We call on Ice to immediately account for and release Mr Hamdi, whose only ‘crime’ is criticising a foreign government that committed genocide," Cair said on Hamdi's arrest. 

“Our nation must stop abducting critics of the Israeli government at the behest of unhinged Israel First bigots. This is an Israel First policy, not an America First policy, and it must end,” the statement read.

Pro-Israel group hails arrest

Founder of the pro-Israel group Rair Foundation Amy Mekelburg, who took credit for Hamdi's arrest, accused the British-Muslim journalist of "legitimising Jihadi networks".

"This is a major victory for America and a Major Blow to the Jihadi network in America! I’ve been fighting this relentlessly – and this morning, the system moved," she wrote on X. 

'The Trump administration’s actions… threaten the very foundations of a free society'

– Human Rights Watch

Rair Foundation USA acts as a pressure group "to combat the threats from Islamic supremacists" and opposes the network of individuals and organisations waging war on "Judeo-Christian values".

Its publicly stated missions include opposing the "deleterious effects" of "Islamic Supremacy on Civilisation".

Mekelburg, who accused Hamdi of being a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, also attacked Cair. 

"Let’s see how the Cair Tampa event is holding up now that their keynote agitator was detained and is being deported," she wrote.

She also called on the Department of Homeland Security to deport Hamdi.

"A foreign national is moving freely across the United States – speaking from mosques, universities, and Cair-run stages – while training US Muslims in digital agitation, electoral sabotage, and political warfare in alignment with Muslim Brotherhood doctrine," she said. 

Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Tricia McLaughlin shared Mekelburg's message thanking the authorities for arresting Hamdi.

"Under President [Donald] Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country," she said. 

Far-right activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer, who has openly described herself as a “proud Islamophobe” and “white advocate", also credited the Rair Foundation for Hamdi's arrest. 

"As a direct result of Amy’s report and my relentless pressure on the State Department and Department of Homeland Security, U.S. officials have now moved to take action against Hamdi’s visa status and his continued presence in this country," she wrote. 

“You’re lucky his only fate is being arrested and deported,” she said, falsely branding him “a supporter of HAMAS and the Muslim Brotherhood”.

Thousands of students arrested

Hamdi's arrest comes amid growing accusations of efforts to silence voices critical of the Israeli actions in Gaza and the western world's support for them.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in April that over 3,000 students have been arrested in the US in 2024 for protesting against Israel’s military operations in Gaza. HRW called the Trump administration’s actions and justifications for the arrests and planned deportations "illegitimate and false". 

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“The arrests and deportations of non-citizen students and scholars for expressing their political views are creating a climate of fear on campuses across the country,” said John Raphling, associate US programme director at HRW.

“The Trump administration’s actions are an attack on free speech and threaten the very foundations of a free society.” 

On 8 March, US authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and permanent resident.

The DHS has also sought to arrest and deport Yunseo Chung, a Columbia undergraduate and lawful permanent resident from South Korea who has lived in the US since childhood. 

In the UK, the government has taken similar steps to curb public criticism of Israel and support for Palestine. In July, the UK government proscribed the group Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act, making public support for the group a criminal offence. 

Since then, British police have arrested hundreds of protesters expressing support for Palestine. Amnesty International has called the arrests "disproportionate to the point of absurdity to be treating them as terrorists".