UK Commentator Who Applauded Hamas’ October 7 Attack Is Detained at a US Airport, Sparking International Outrage.NH
A controversial British political commentator who celebrated the horrific Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas was detained in the US just after starting a speaking tour.
Sami Hamdi, who told a mosque to “celebrate the victory” days after the 2023 attack left 1,200 Israelis dead, was taken into custody at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday while heading on a speaking tour for the Council for American-Islamic Relations [CAIR], the organization said.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that his “visa was revoked and he is in ICE custody pending removal.”
“Under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country. It’s common sense,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin posted on X.
There had already been a widespread push for the Trump administration to kick out Hamdi — who claims to be a journalist — over his past celebration of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that led to years of devastating war.
Days after the attack, he reportedly told a crowd at a mosque in London to “celebrate the victory.”
“We are pitying a people who brought a huge victory since 1948,” he said. “Don’t pity them, they don’t want your pity. Celebrate the victory,” he said.
“How many of you felt it in your hearts when you got the news that it happened? How many of you felt the euphoria? Allahu Akbari!”
Hamdi also claimed Israel’s accusations of sexual violence committed by Hamas were false, according to The Telegraph.
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Far-right influencer Laura Loomer took credit for Hamdi’s arrest.
“I demanded that federal authorities inside the Trump administration treat Hamdi as the major national security threat that he is and I reported Sami Hamdi to federal immigration authorities over his documented support for Islamic terrorism,” she tweeted.
CAIR, however, called for Hamdi’s release and accused the Trump administration of detaining him over his criticism of the Israeli government.
“Abducting a prominent British Muslim journalist and political commentator on a speaking tour in the United States because he dared to criticize the Israeli government’s genocide is a blatant affront to free speech,” CAIR said in a statement.
“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.”
Hamdi had spoken Saturday at the annual gala of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and had been scheduled at another speaking event in Florida on Sunday.
He is the founder and managing director of the International Interest, an organization that “advises on geopolitical environments and risks across the globe,” according to its website.
He has appeared on Britain’s Sky News and other news outlets as a commentator on Middle Eastern issues.
