US detains pro-Hamas UK pundit for celebrating Oct. 7 massacres

British man arrested in California after attending CAIR event, after his visa was revoked over his open support for deadly Hamas terrorism.

By World Israel News Staff

US immigration officials revoked the tourist visa of a radical Islamist from Britain over the weekend and detained him with plans to expel him from the country.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials detained British political commentator and journalist Sami Hamdi on Sunday, after the Department of Homeland Security revoked his visa over his support for terrorism.

Hamdi, a pundit with a pro-Islamist bent, was visiting the US for a series of speaking events.

A day before he was detained, Hamdi had spoken at a brunch hosted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), an American Islamist group accused of having ties in the past to the Hamas terror organization.

After the CAIR event in Sacramento, California, Hamdi was slated to fly from San Francisco to Florida for an additional speaking event.

Before he could board his flight, however, Hamdi was taken into ICE custody at San Francisco International Airport.

DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said Hamdi now faces deportation from the US over his explicit support for terrorism.

“This individual’s visa was revoked and he is in ICE custody pending removal,” McLaughlin said.

“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.”

After Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, and massacred some 1,200 people, Hamdi called the atrocities a “victory” and urged fellow Muslims to celebrate.

“We are pitying people who brought a huge victory since 1948,” Hamdi said during a speech in a London mosque. “Don’t pity them, they don’t want your pity. Celebrate the victory.”

“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!”

Hamdi later downplayed his statement of support for the October 7th massacres, claiming that he merely sought to illustrate that “international recognition that efforts to normalize relations in the Middle East must include Palestinian people.”

deportationHamasOctober 7thTrump administration