The family of Samaher Esmail, a Palestinian-American woman, is growing increasingly concerned for her well-being as they have not been able to make contact with her over a week since she was arrested by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. Esmail's family is particularly worried because they believe she has not been receiving the necessary medication for her cancer treatment.
According to Esmail's relatives, she was forcefully taken from her home during a predawn raid on February 5. The family expressed concerns about her health, as she is currently undergoing treatment for uterine cancer. While the Israeli military has stated that Esmail was arrested for 'incitement on social media,' no further details have been provided. Requests for comment from both the army and Israeli prison service have gone unanswered as of Tuesday.
Adding to their distress, Esmail's family shared that a lawyer, who visited her, reported that she was in poor condition and had allegedly been subjected to physical abuse. The family claims that she has not been given access to her much-needed medication.
Samaher Esmail hails from Gretna, Louisiana, the same hometown as Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, a Palestinian American teenager who was recently killed by Israeli fire in a neighboring village. The death of the 17-year-old received attention from the White House, prompting Israeli police to promise a thorough investigation. However, no findings from that investigation have been released thus far.
Esmail's family mentioned that she frequently traveled between the West Bank and the United States, where she managed a family-owned grocery store in Gretna and worked as a tutor at a nearby high school.
During a news conference hosted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, Esmail's son, Ibrahim Esmail, pleaded for the return of his mother. He asserted that the family had not heard from her and revealed that, as of Monday, the U.S. embassy had not contacted them or sent any consular officials to visit her. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem declined to comment on the matter.
Ibrahim Esmail emphasized that the family is demanding his mother's 'unconditional release' from what they believe to be wrongful detention. He urged the American government to take a more proactive and aware stance regarding his mother's situation.
As the days pass without any news or contact with Samaher Esmail, her family anxiously awaits updates and hopes for her safe return. The circumstances surrounding her arrest and alleged mistreatment raise concerns about the protection of human rights and access to essential medical care. The situation highlights the need for continued attention and active involvement from relevant authorities to ensure justice and the well-being of all individuals involved.
