Two Palestinian humanitarians, Eid Hthaleen and Ouda Alhadlin, were detained at San Francisco International Airport and subsequently deported to Qatar, advocates reported, over a day after their arrival in the U.S. despite holding valid visas.
Their detention sparked significant protests, with around 100 supporters gathering at the airport to demand their release, chanting slogans and holding signs that called for an end to the genocide of Palestinians.
Hthaleen and Alhadlin had traveled to the Bay Area to share their experiences living in the West Bank and to express gratitude to their supporters within Jewish and Christian communities.
Emphasizing their determination, supporters at the arrivals gate sang, “We are not afraid. We are not afraid. We will stand for liberation, ’cause we know why we were made.”
David Cooper, rabbi emeritus of Kehilla Community Synagogue in Piedmont, expressed deep sadness over their detention, highlighting that the U.S. government appears to be rejecting human-to-human connections with those outside the country.
He remarked, “The United States government is now not wanting these human-to-human connections with people from outside our immediate experience.”
Cooper has known Hthaleen and Alhadlin for eight years, having visited their West Bank village, which he described as dedicated to non-violence despite facing threats from the Israeli government.
In addition to speaking at various interfaith events, the two men aimed to raise funds for school supplies and a children’s summer camp in their community.
Michelle Higgins, who had planned to attend a talk featuring the men and was later informed of its cancellation, described their detention as an act of racism that sought to silence Palestinian voices, something she feels is an unfortunate norm.
Hthaleen and Alhadlin were sponsored by Phillip Weintraub of the Kehilla Community Synagogue. Weintraub spent hours waiting at the airport on Wednesday afternoon, only to learn later that the men’s visas had been revoked and they would be deported.
Weintraub was among dozens of activists who gathered at the airport, donning keffiyehs and waving signs that declared messages of Jewish solidarity with Palestinians and welcoming them to San Francisco.
He commented on the supportive energy of the crowd, stating, “I’ve been heartened by the energy and enthusiasm and support for our friends. I’m hopeful that our voices on some level are getting through to our friends who are detained here.”
As the day progressed, demonstrators closed in on an arrivals door, chanting, “No deportations, let them go!” However, the door was eventually blocked from the inside by officials.
By 4 p.m., Weintraub received confirmation that Hthaleen and Alhadlin had been placed on a flight to Qatar scheduled to depart at 3:55 p.m., connecting to Jordan.
When asked about what more could be done to assist, Weintraub could only silently shake his head, reflecting the sense of helplessness felt by many in the crowd.
image source from：https://missionlocal.org/2025/06/palestinian-sfo-entry-denied/
