Palestinian-American Adolescent Freed Following 270 Days in Israeli Detention
Zaher Ibrahim
An American-Palestinian teenager having endured nine months in Israeli detention without being charged has been freed.
Mohammed Ibrahim was fifteen years old when he was arrested last February within the occupied West Bank, during a family visit from his Florida home under suspicion of rock throwing against settlement residents, allegations he repeatedly contested.
United States authorities expressed satisfaction with the teenager's freedom.
Currently aged sixteen, needed medical care right after being freed, according to close relatives.
They said he is visibly pale and thin, while battling health issues acquired while detained.
Via family representatives, family spokesperson spoke of the family's "tremendous relief".
Family member Zeyad Kadur described how relatives endured "living a horrific and endless nightmare" during the entire detention period.
"Right now, we are focused on getting Mohammed urgent medical care he requires after being subjected to harsh conditions and inhumane conditions over several months."
American authorities stated they would maintain to offer diplomatic assistance for the Ibrahim family.
{"American leadership has no higher priority to the protection and welfare of American nationals"," the department emphasized.
A group of American legislators endorsed a document to US authorities and President Donald Trump, demanding more be done to secure his release.
Mohammed's parent, a father-of-four who runs an ice cream business based in Tampa, previously claimed Mohammed acknowledged allegations regarding stone throwing after being assaulted by soldiers.
He had not seen or communicated with his son since February, and only heard what had happened to him in detention through court documents.
He stayed lacking indictment within Ofer penitentiary throughout the occupied territory.
The facility also contains mature inmates, some of whom have been convicted regarding severe security violations including killings.
An estimated several hundred young Palestinian detainees currently imprisoned in Israel, per correctional service statistics.
Many have never been charged and human rights groups, including UN bodies, document cases involving abuse and torture.
After the teenager's freedom, the uncle stated they would maintain their efforts seeking justice for their relative Sayfollah Musallet.
This young American-Palestinian who the Palestinian health ministry said died from beating by Israeli settlers amid clashes in July.
Initially, military authorities reported authorities were looking into reports a Palestinian civilian had been killed.
The two cousins collaborated in the family ice cream shop based in Florida.
No charges have been filed for the cousin's murder.
"We demand US authorities to protect our families," Mr Kadur said.
