Palestinian-American Youth Freed Following Nine Months in Israeli Custody
Zaher Ibrahim
A Palestinian-American youth who spent nine months in Israel's custody without charge gained freedom.
Mohammed Ibrahim was fifteen years old at the time of his arrest last February within the occupied West Bank, during a family visit on holiday from Florida for allegedly throwing stones at Jewish settlers, allegations he repeatedly contested.
United States authorities said it welcomed the teenager's freedom.
Now sixteen years old, needed medical care right after being freed, family members reported.
Family described him as showing signs of malnutrition, and experiencing medical problems contracted in captivity.
Through an official statement, the youth's uncle spoke of the family's "immense relief".
Zeyad Kadur said the family had been "living a horrific and endless nightmare" throughout the past nine months.
"Right now, our priority is getting Mohammed the immediate medical attention he needs following exposure to Israel's abuse and brutal treatment over several months."
US officials stated they would maintain to provide consular support to the teenager's relatives.
{"The Trump Administration has no higher priority to ensuring the safety for United States citizens"," the department emphasized.
Twenty-seven US lawmakers endorsed a document to diplomatic officials and the administration, urging greater action for his freedom.
The father, a father-of-four operating an ice cream shop based in Tampa, previously claimed his child admitted guilt regarding stone throwing because the soldiers beat him.
There were no visits nor direct contact since February, receiving updates exclusively about his son's condition in detention through court documents.
Mohammed was held without charge in Ofer prison in the West Bank.
The facility also contains adult prisoners, featuring prisoners sentenced for major terrorist activities and murder.
An estimated several hundred young Palestinian detainees detained within Israeli facilities, per correctional service statistics.
Many have never been charged along with monitoring agencies, as well as the United Nations, say some have suffered mistreatment and torture.
Subsequent to his liberation, family representatives announced they would maintain their efforts seeking justice for their relative their cousin Sayfollah.
This young American-Palestinian per medical officials succumbed to assault by settlement residents amid clashes in July.
At the time, defense forces stated they were examining information regarding a civilian had been killed.
The two cousins had worked together at their family's ice cream business from Tampa.
No indictments occurred for the cousin's murder.
"We demand the American government to safeguard our relatives," family representatives emphasized.
