American-Palestinian Adolescent Freed After Nine Months in Israel's Custody
Zaher Ibrahim
An Palestinian-American adolescent who spent 270 days in Israeli detention without being charged has been freed.
Mohammed Ibrahim had just turned 15 during his detention in February throughout the West Bank territory, where he was visiting on holiday from Florida under suspicion of rock throwing at Jewish settlers, which he previously denied.
The US state department applauded the teenager's freedom.
Mohammed, now 16, needed medical care upon gaining freedom, family members reported.
Family described him as showing signs of malnutrition, and is suffering from conditions contracted in captivity.
Via family representatives, the youth's uncle conveyed their "tremendous relief".
The uncle, Zeyad Kadur described how relatives endured "living a horrific and endless nightmare" during the entire detention period.
"At this moment, we are focused on ensuring Mohammed receives the immediate medical attention he requires after experiencing mistreatment by authorities and inhumane conditions for months."
US officials announced ongoing to provide consular support to the teenager's relatives.
{"The Trump Administration gives utmost importance to ensuring the safety for United States citizens"," it added.
Twenty-seven US lawmakers submitted a formal letter to diplomatic officials and the administration, urging greater action to secure his release.
Mr Ibrahim, with four children who runs an ice cream business based in Tampa, had earlier stated Mohammed acknowledged allegations regarding stone throwing after being assaulted by soldiers.
He had not seen nor direct contact since the arrest, and only heard what had happened to him in detention through court documents.
The teenager remained absent formal charges at Ofer detention facility throughout the occupied territory.
The facility also contains grown detainees, including individuals found guilty for major terrorist activities including killings.
An estimated 350 Palestinian minors in security custody currently imprisoned in Israel, according to the Israeli Prison Service.
Numerous remain uncharged along with monitoring agencies, as well as the United Nations, say some have suffered abuse and torture.
Subsequent to his liberation, Mr Kadur said they would maintain their efforts demanding accountability for their family member family member Sayfollah.
The dual national youth who the Palestinian health ministry said was beaten to death by radical settlers following tensions in July.
During that period, 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 from Tampa.
No charges have been filed with Sayfollah's killing.
"We expect the American government to safeguard our relatives," family representatives emphasized.