American-Palestinian Youth Released Following Nine-Month Period in Israel's Imprisonment
Zaher Ibrahim
A Palestinian-American teenager who spent nine months in Israeli detention without charge has been freed.
The teenager Mohammed Ibrahim was 15 during his detention this past winter in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where he was visiting from his Florida home accused of stone-throwing against settlement residents, which he previously denied.
United States authorities expressed satisfaction with Mohammed's liberation.
Mohammed, now 16, was taken to hospital upon gaining freedom, according to close relatives.
According to them, he appears showing signs of malnutrition, and experiencing medical problems acquired while detained.
Via family representatives, Mohammed's uncle expressed the family's "immense relief".
The uncle, Zeyad Kadur stated the family experienced "surviving a terrible, unending nightmare" over the last nine months.
"At this moment, we're concentrating on getting Mohammed the immediate medical attention he needs after experiencing Israel's abuse and inhumane conditions over several months."
US officials stated they would maintain to provide consular support to the teenager's relatives.
{"American leadership has no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens"," the department emphasized.
Twenty-seven US lawmakers submitted a formal letter to the state department and the White House, urging greater action to release him.
The father, a father-of-four operating an ice cream shop in Florida, previously said Mohammed acknowledged allegations about rock throwing because the soldiers beat him.
He had not seen or spoken to Mohammed following the detention, and only heard what had happened to him in detention through court documents.
The teenager remained without charge at Ofer detention facility on the West Bank.
The facility also contains adult prisoners, some of whom have been convicted for major terrorist activities and homicide.
Approximately 350 Palestinian minors in security custody detained within Israeli facilities, according to the Israeli Prison Service.
Several lack formal charges and human rights groups, as well as the United Nations, report instances of abuse and torture.
After the teenager's freedom, family representatives announced the family would also continue fighting demanding accountability for their family member their cousin Sayfollah.
This young American-Palestinian who the Palestinian health ministry said succumbed to assault by Israeli settlers amid clashes during summer.
Initially, defense forces stated they were examining reports a Palestinian civilian had died.
Both young men had worked together within the family's frozen treats establishment from Tampa.
No indictments occurred for the cousin's murder.
"We demand US authorities to protect our families," Mr Kadur said.