Palestinian-American Youth Liberated After Nine Months in Israeli Custody
Zaher Ibrahim
An American-Palestinian youth who spent a nine-month period in imprisonment by Israel absent formal charges has been freed.
Mohammed Ibrahim had just turned 15 when he was arrested in February within the occupied West Bank, where he was visiting on holiday from Florida accused of stone-throwing against settlement residents, claims he consistently denied.
The US state department expressed satisfaction with the teenager's freedom.
Now sixteen years old, was taken to hospital for treatment immediately after release, family members reported.
According to them, he appears pale, underweight, while battling health issues acquired while detained.
Through an official statement, the youth's uncle expressed the family's "immense relief".
Family member Zeyad Kadur described how relatives endured "surviving a terrible, unending nightmare" during the entire detention period.
"At this moment, our priority is getting Mohammed the immediate medical attention he requires following exposure to harsh conditions and brutal treatment throughout his detention."
The state department announced ongoing to provide consular support for the Ibrahim family.
{"American leadership has no higher priority to the protection and welfare for United States citizens"," it added.
Several congressional representatives submitted a formal letter to the state department and the White House, demanding more be done to release him.
The father, with four children operating an ice cream shop based in Tampa, previously claimed his child admitted guilt to throwing stones because the soldiers beat him.
The father hadn't visited nor direct contact since February, receiving updates exclusively about his son's condition via legal paperwork.
The teenager remained without charge within Ofer penitentiary in the West Bank.
The facility also contains grown detainees, featuring prisoners sentenced regarding severe security violations and homicide.
Approximately 350 Palestinian minors in security custody being held in Israeli jails, based on prison authority data.
Many have never been charged and human rights groups, as well as the United Nations, report instances of mistreatment and torture.
After the teenager's freedom, family representatives announced they would maintain their efforts for justice for his cousin their cousin Sayfollah.
The 20-year-old dual US citizen per medical officials died from beating by Israeli settlers amid clashes in July.
During that period, the Israeli military said officials were investigating reports a Palestinian civilian had died.
The two cousins had worked together in the family ice cream shop from Tampa.
No one has been charged regarding Sayfollah's death.
"We expect the American government to protect our families," family representatives emphasized.
