UK commentator who praised Oct. 7 ‘victory’ lands in London after US deportation

LONDON — British pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel political commentator Sami Hamdi landed back in London on Thursday after being released from the United States, where he spent more than two weeks in immigration detention.

Hamdi was detained on October 26 at San Francisco International Airport after US officials revoked his visa during a speaking tour in which he criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza. The Trump administration has accused him of supporting the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre.

“It’s wonderful to be back after being exonerated by two federal judges, both of whom found that there were serious breaches of freedom of speech,” Hamdi told reporters after landing at London’s Heathrow Airport, where he was embraced by his family.

He said the only allegation against him was overstaying his visa after it was revoked without warning. He insisted he had complied with all visa conditions and alleged the move was linked to his advocacy for Gaza.

“I want to say that this wasn’t just an attack on me. It was an attack on the freedoms of ordinary Americans and citizens worldwide. It was an attack on their freedom to speak the truth in the face of hatred,” he said.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Hamdi’s visa was canceled under security rules and that he was in the country illegally. Rights groups and press freedom advocates condemned the detention, calling it an attack on free speech.

BREAKING: British Muslim journalist Sami Hamdi has finally arrived home after being deported from America following two weeks' detention.

5Pillars witnessed Hamdi being greeted by friends, family and supporters at Heathrow Airport.

More on this to follow…@SALHACHIMI pic.twitter.com/hRqbamClSB

— 5Pillars (@5Pillarsuk) November 13, 2025

In a statement at the time of his arrest, a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman cited remarks he made in a video posted online shortly after the Hamas attacks in which he called to “celebrate the victory” of October 7 and asked his audience “how many of you felt euphoria” when they heard of the Hamas atrocities in which terrorists killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.

Hamdi claimed later his intent was not to praise the attacks but to suggest that the violence was “a natural consequence of the oppression that is being put on the Palestinians.”

The State Department has not said specifically what Hamdi said or did that initiated the revocation, but in a post on X, the department said: “The United States has no obligation to host foreigners” who the administration deems to “support terrorism and actively undermine the safety of Americans. We continue to revoke the visas of persons engaged in such activity.”

Hamdi, managing director of The International Interest, a political risk consultancy, and a frequent analyst on British television, had spoken at a gala for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in California and was scheduled to appear at another event in Florida before his arrest.

The Trump administration has pursued a sweeping immigration crackdown this year, including revoking visas for people accused of supporting terrorism and deporting foreign nationals who have voiced support for Palestinians and anti-Israel views.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.