Palestinian-American Teenager Freed After Nine Months in Israeli Imprisonment
Zaher Ibrahim
An Palestinian-American teenager after completing a nine-month period in Israel's custody without charge has been freed.
The teenager Mohammed Ibrahim was fifteen years old during his detention last February in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where he was visiting on holiday from Florida for allegedly throwing stones at Jewish settlers, allegations he repeatedly contested.
American diplomatic officials applauded the news of Mohammed's release.
Currently aged sixteen, required hospitalization upon gaining freedom, according to close relatives.
They said he is showing signs of malnutrition, and experiencing medical problems acquired while detained.
In a statement, family spokesperson conveyed their "overwhelming sense of relief".
The uncle, Zeyad Kadur said the family had been "surviving a terrible, unending nightmare" during the entire detention period.
"At this moment, we are focused on getting Mohammed urgent medical care necessary for his recovery after experiencing Israel's abuse and inhumane conditions throughout his detention."
The state department said it would continue to extend consular services for the Ibrahim family.
{"American leadership has no higher priority to the protection and welfare of American nationals"," the department emphasized.
Twenty-seven US lawmakers endorsed a document to the state department and the administration, requesting additional efforts to secure his release.
The father, a father-of-four managing a frozen treats business from Florida, previously claimed his child admitted guilt to throwing stones because the soldiers beat him.
He had not seen or communicated with his son following the detention, receiving updates exclusively about his son's condition in detention through court documents.
Mohammed was held without charge within Ofer penitentiary in the West Bank.
The facility also contains mature inmates, featuring prisoners sentenced of serious terrorism offences including killings.
Approximately several hundred young Palestinian detainees being held in Israeli jails, per correctional service statistics.
Numerous remain uncharged and human rights groups, including UN bodies, document cases involving physical abuse and torture.
Subsequent to his liberation, family representatives announced they would maintain their efforts seeking justice for their relative family member Sayfollah.
This young American-Palestinian who the Palestinian health ministry said was beaten to death by radical settlers during a confrontation in July.
At the time, defense forces stated they were examining accounts of a Palestinian had died.
The two cousins had worked together at their family's ice cream business based in Florida.
No one has been charged with Sayfollah's killing.
"We anticipate United States leadership to ensure our family's safety," family representatives emphasized.