Palestinian-American Teenager Released After Nine-Month Period in Israeli Custody
Zaher Ibrahim
An American-Palestinian teenager who spent 270 days in Israeli detention without being charged has been freed.
Mohammed Ibrahim was 15 during his detention in February in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, while he was vacationing on holiday from Florida for allegedly throwing stones at Jewish settlers, allegations he repeatedly contested.
United States authorities applauded the news of Mohammed's release.
Mohammed, now 16, was taken to hospital right after being freed, according to close relatives.
Family described him as showing signs of malnutrition, while battling health issues contracted in captivity.
Via family representatives, the youth's uncle conveyed their "overwhelming sense of relief".
Family member Zeyad Kadur said the family had been "enduring a dreadful, continuous nightmare" over the last nine months.
"Currently, we're concentrating on providing Mohammed with the immediate medical attention necessary for his recovery after being subjected to mistreatment by authorities and cruel circumstances for months."
The state department stated they would maintain to provide consular support to Mohammed's family.
{"US government authorities considers paramount to the protection and welfare of American nationals"," it added.
Twenty-seven US lawmakers endorsed a document to the state department and the White House, urging greater action to secure his release.
The father, with four children managing a frozen treats business based in Tampa, previously claimed Mohammed acknowledged allegations about rock throwing after being assaulted by soldiers.
There were no visits nor direct contact since February, receiving updates exclusively what had happened to him in detention through court documents.
The teenager remained lacking indictment in Ofer prison in the West Bank.
The facility also contains adult prisoners, including individuals found guilty of serious terrorism offences and murder.
There are around several hundred young Palestinian detainees currently imprisoned in Israel, according to the Israeli Prison Service.
Numerous remain uncharged along with monitoring agencies, and international organizations, document cases involving abuse and torture.
Following Mohammed's release, family representatives announced they would maintain their efforts demanding accountability for their family member Sayfollah Musallet.
This young American-Palestinian according to health authorities was beaten to death by radical settlers during a confrontation last July.
During that period, military authorities reported officials were investigating accounts of a Palestinian had died.
Both young men were employed together in the family ice cream shop based in Florida.
No indictments occurred with Sayfollah's killing.
"We anticipate US authorities to protect our families," the uncle stated.