US court questions legality of pro-Palestine British journalist's detention

A US federal court has raised "serious questions" about the legality of detaining pro-Palestine British journalist Sami Hamdi, according to a legal advocacy group.

The court has blocked the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency from transferring Hamdi out of California. Meanwhile, his case proceeds, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) said on Saturday.

Cair added that the court recognised that Hamdi's lawyers "raised serious questions regarding whether his detention was retaliation for protected speech under the First Amendment".

The advocacy group described the ruling as "an important first step".

"The court has recognised that this case raises serious constitutional concerns and has acted to ensure Sami cannot be quietly moved away from his lawyers," said Hussam Ayloush, the executive director of Cair's southern California chapter.

"The fight continues for his freedom and for the protection of free speech for everyone."

Earlier, Hamdi's family reported that he had been suffering from severe pain on his left side while in detention. He was later given on-site medical treatment.

The journalist was detained by ICE last week at San Francisco International Airport during a speaking tour in the United States.

Cair said his detention was a retaliation for his criticism of Israel, calling it an "abduction".

Hamdi's wife, Soumaya, said on Wednesday that he had been "abducted" because of his advocacy for Palestinian rights.

"He is now being held captive thousands of miles away from our children," she said. 

"They miss their father dearly and were looking forward to spending the school break with him. Sami is, above all, a family man with a strong sense of justice."

US judge rules targeting noncitizens for pro-Palestine views is unconstitutional

Read More »

Hamdi was on a speaking tour across North America when he was detained. 

A day before his arrest, he spoke at a Cair gala in Sacramento, where he condemned Israel's genocide in Gaza. He had been scheduled to speak at another Cair event in Florida on the day of his arrest.

During his tour, pro-Israel groups targeted him on social media over his pro-Palestine views.

Amy Mekelburg, founder of the pro-Israel group RAIR Foundation, claimed credit for Hamdi's arrest, accusing the journalist of "legitimising jihadi networks".

Hamdi's detention comes amid growing accusations of efforts to silence critics of Israel's actions in Gaza and of western support for them.

In April, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that more than 3,000 students had been arrested in the US in 2024 under President Joe Biden's administration for protesting against Israel's war on Gaza.

HRW condemned the crackdown, and described the official justifications for the arrests and planned deportations as "illegitimate and false".