Family of Palestinian-American detained by Israeli forces alleges mistreatment in custody

CNN —

The family of Samaher Esmail, a Palestinian-American detained in the West Bank by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), alleged on Tuesday that she has been beaten and denied medication while in Israeli custody, according to a statement released on their behalf.

The family also said that US officials have not been granted consular access to her more than a week after her detention.

The family said that Esmail, 46, was “dragged” from her home by IDF members and “beaten badly in Israeli custody.” They also said her home was destroyed in the raid.

“Despite having had her prescription medication from the moment they arrested her, the IDF has declined to administer it,” the family statement said. “Despite having a clear obligation to grant Consular access, the Netanyahu government has declined daily requests from the U.S. Embassy for permission to visit Ms. Esmail.”

The IDF confirmed Esmail’s detention, saying she was “arrested for incitement on social media,” but did not respond to the allegations of mistreatment raised by the family.

State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said he could not speak to the specific claims made by the family, citing privacy laws.

“In any of these circumstances, whether it be in Israel or elsewhere, we seek consular access, we seek access to the individual and we talk to their family when appropriate,” he said at a department press briefing Tuesday.

“We try to ensure that detainees or people who are arrested are treated fairly, are treated humanely, have full access to due process, have access to counsel,” he continued.

“As is often the case, due to privacy considerations that are just in the law that don’t give me any wiggle room at all, I’m unable to speak in detail about