Sami Hamdi to depart United States voluntarily following immigration detention

A British commentator who made controversial statements about the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel will return to the United Kingdom after US immigration authorities agreed to his release.

Sami Hamdi, who identifies as a journalist, has been held in custody since his arrest by federal agents at San Francisco International Airport on October 26 during a speaking engagement tour.

US officials are expected to release Mr. Hamdi, who will voluntarily depart the country. His family welcomed the news in a statement, saying “Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), good news. The government has agreed to release Sami. He will be able to return home soon insha’Allah (God willing).”

Visa Revocation and Detention

Prior to his detention, Mr. Hamdi had appeared at an event hosted by the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) and was traveling to Florida when arrested.

US authorities revoked Mr. Hamdi’s visa “effective immediately” on October 24, two days before taking him into custody.

CAIR-CA, which assisted in filing a legal challenge to the detention, confirmed that Mr. Hamdi accepted an offer to leave the United States voluntarily. According to the organization, immigration documents cited a visa overstay but did not identify criminal conduct or security concerns.

Controversial Statements

The detention stems from remarks Mr. Hamdi made at a London mosque ten days after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel.

During that appearance, Mr. Hamdi told attendees to “celebrate the victory,” stating: “We are pitying a people who brought a huge victory since 1948. Don’t pity them, they don’t want your pity. Celebrate the victory.”

He continued: “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 Akbar!”

Mr. Hamdi also disputed widely documented accounts of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas—designated as a terrorist organization by both Britain and the United States—suggesting such reports were fabricated by Israel.

Competing Narratives

Hussam Ayloush, CAIR-CA’s chief executive, characterized the arrest as politically motivated, arguing that “Sami never should have spent a single night in an ICE cell. His only real ‘offence’ was speaking clearly about Israel’s genocidal war crimes against Palestinians.”

Mr. Ayloush added: “Sami’s case shows how quickly our government officials are willing to sacrifice our First Amendment and free press when a journalist uses his platform to dare put America first before Israel.”

Mr. Hamdi has denied celebrating the October 7 attack, telling the National Post last year that he was “illustrating the international recognition that efforts to normalise relations in the Middle East must include Palestinian voices.”

“The October 7th events underscore the failure of any approach that seeks normalisation at the expense of the Palestinian people,” he stated.

Official Responses

A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed: “We are in contact with and providing consular assistance to a British man detained in the USA. We are in touch with the local authorities and his family in the UK.”

Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, offered a different perspective: “Sami Hamdi, an illegal alien and terrorist sympathiser who cheered on Hamas following its October 7 terrorist attack, requested voluntary departure and ICE is happily arranging his removal from this country.”

She added: “Under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country. That’s just common sense.”