American-Palestinian Youth Released Following Nine-Month Period in Israeli Detention
Zaher Ibrahim
A Palestinian-American teenager who spent a nine-month period in Israeli detention without being charged has been freed.
Mohammed Ibrahim had just turned 15 at the time of his arrest last February within the occupied West Bank, during a family visit on holiday from Florida under suspicion of rock throwing at Jewish settlers, allegations he repeatedly contested.
The US state department applauded the teenager's freedom.
Currently aged sixteen, needed medical care upon gaining freedom, according to close relatives.
According to them, he appears visibly pale and thin, and experiencing medical problems developed during imprisonment.
Via family representatives, Mohammed's uncle spoke of the family's "overwhelming sense of relief".
Family member Zeyad Kadur described how relatives endured "enduring a dreadful, continuous nightmare" throughout the past nine months.
"Currently, we're concentrating on getting Mohammed urgent medical care he needs after being subjected to mistreatment by authorities and cruel circumstances for months."
American authorities said it would continue to provide consular support for the Ibrahim family.
{"American leadership considers paramount to ensuring the safety of American nationals"," it added.
Twenty-seven US lawmakers submitted a formal letter to diplomatic officials and the White House, demanding more be done to release him.
The father, a father-of-four managing a frozen treats business from Florida, had earlier stated his child admitted guilt regarding stone throwing after being assaulted by soldiers.
The father hadn't visited nor direct contact following the detention, and only heard about his son's condition through judicial records.
Mohammed was held absent formal charges at Ofer detention facility on the West Bank.
Additionally housing mature inmates, including individuals found guilty regarding severe security violations including killings.
Approximately 350 Palestinian child security detainees being held in Israeli jails, per correctional service statistics.
Many have never been charged along with monitoring agencies, as well as the United Nations, report instances of physical abuse and torture.
After the teenager's freedom, the uncle stated the family would also continue fighting seeking justice for their relative Sayfollah Musallet.
This young American-Palestinian per medical officials succumbed to assault by Israeli settlers amid clashes last July.
During that period, the Israeli military said authorities were looking into accounts of a Palestinian was deceased.
Mohammed and Sayfollah collaborated in the family ice cream shop based in Florida.
No charges have been filed with Sayfollah's killing.
"We demand United States leadership to safeguard our relatives," family representatives emphasized.
