Palestinian-American Adolescent Liberated After Nine Months in Israeli Custody
Zaher Ibrahim
A Palestinian-American teenager having endured nine months in Israeli detention absent formal charges gained freedom.
Mohammed Ibrahim was fifteen years old when he was arrested in February within the occupied West Bank, where he was visiting on holiday from Florida accused of stone-throwing at Jewish settlers, which he previously denied.
United States authorities expressed satisfaction with the news of Mohammed's release.
Currently aged sixteen, needed medical care right after being freed, relatives told the media.
They said he is pale, underweight, and experiencing medical problems developed during imprisonment.
Via family representatives, family spokesperson expressed the family's "overwhelming sense of relief".
Zeyad Kadur said the family had been "surviving a terrible, unending nightmare" during the entire detention period.
"Right now, our priority is ensuring Mohammed receives urgent medical care necessary for his recovery following exposure to harsh conditions and brutal treatment for months."
The state department said it would continue to provide consular support to Mohammed's family.
{"American leadership considers paramount than the safety and security for United States citizens"," it added.
Twenty-seven US lawmakers had signed a letter to the state department and the administration, demanding more be done to release him.
Mohammed's parent, a father-of-four managing a frozen treats business in Florida, had earlier stated his son only confessed about rock throwing after being assaulted by soldiers.
He had not seen or communicated with his son since February, receiving updates exclusively regarding the treatment through judicial records.
The teenager remained without charge in Ofer prison throughout the occupied territory.
It is also home to grown detainees, featuring prisoners sentenced regarding severe security violations including killings.
There are around several hundred young Palestinian detainees being held in Israeli jails, per correctional service statistics.
Several lack formal charges while advocacy organizations, and international organizations, report instances of abuse and torture.
After the teenager's freedom, Mr Kadur said the family would also continue fighting seeking justice for their relative their cousin Sayfollah.
The dual national youth per medical officials succumbed to assault by radical settlers during a confrontation during summer.
At the time, the Israeli military said authorities were looking into reports a Palestinian civilian had been killed.
Mohammed and Sayfollah were employed together in the family ice cream shop based in Florida.
No one has been charged for the cousin's murder.
"We expect US authorities to safeguard our relatives," family representatives emphasized.