Samer Shaath, a compassionate Palestinian healthcare worker, husband, and father, has been detained without charge or trial after being taken from Gaza. Samer is my husband Faris’s cousin. Faris is a United States citizen and resident of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and Samer is an integral part of our family. We are devastated by his unexplained disappearance into detention.

Samer was detained on November 12, 2023, during the forced displacement of civilians from Gaza following intense bombardment. While fleeing with his wife and their 10-year-old son, Samer was forcibly separated from his family by Israeli forces. During this incident, the family was subjected to humiliation and had personal belongings taken. Samer’s wife and child were detained for hours among tanks and armored vehicles, then released alone at night under threat, without any information about Samer’s whereabouts or fate.

Since that day, Samer’s family has received no clear or official information regarding his location, legal status, or condition. He has had no access to legal counsel, no contact with his family, and no formal acknowledgment of his detention. This prolonged absence of information raises grave concerns of enforced disappearance, a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights law.

Every day, families like ours are left in uncertainty, struggling with the absence of their loved ones. The right to information and due process is a fundamental human right. In this case, it is not only applicable to Samer, but crucial for all individuals detained without explanation. In Gaza, many like Samer are taken into detention without charge, leading families to suffer in the shadows of uncertainty. This practice undermines international human rights principles, including the right to a fair trial.

Therefore, we urge the United States government to intervene on behalf of Samer Shaath. It is imperative that U.S. officials:

• Request immediate and verified information about his location and condition

• Ensure he is granted due process under international law

• Guarantee access to legal counsel and humanitarian care without delay

We also urgently appeal to journalists, human rights organizations, humanitarian agencies, and international institutions to help locate Samer, ensure his protection, and advocate for transparency and accountability.

Let us stand together for Samer and for all families facing similar suffering. By advocating for transparency, justice, and humanity, we can help reunite families and uphold fundamental human rights.

Please sign and share this petition to urge prompt and decisive action.

Contacted Amnesty International, Red Cross, People we know. We need your help to reach high officials. 

We call for the immediate release of Samer, a civilian held under administrative detention without charges or trial. His continued detention violates fundamental principles of due process and international law. We urge immediate intervention to secure his freedom and protect his rights.